Chapter 41 - The Lost Chance
Ok, so here it is - the second last chapter. Only one to go, plus the epilogue.
Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support, particularly those who have been reviewing regularly.
Just a little warning. There is some nasty language in the last few paragraphs of this. The F word is used a couple of times.
Please read and review. Thanks.
*********************************************************
Snape was drawn out of sleep, not really understanding why. It was far too early to be waking after the night he had had. A brief tinge of pain struck him at the memory of the previous night's events, at the Jane's destruction of his things, and the argument that ensured, then he remembered too, the painful memories that his anger had brought her, and finally, happily, he remembered their reconciliation.
He smiled; she was now sleeping peacefully in his bed, still clasping his hand as she had been since he had placed her there. The thought that she had been able to see through his anger and forgive him was encouraging. In the past, he knew only too well, that she would have fled. It had been a similar situation, not so very long ago, that had been the start of their most recent problems.
Moving slowly, muscles aching from their night in an uncomfortable chair rather than the bed the child was using; but trying not to waken the exhausted child, he pondered what had disturbed his own sleep, sleep that was so desperately needed. Pain shot up his arm. Voldemort! He considered ignoring the call, knowing only too well what attending his "Master" would most likely mean, given the increasing severity of his punishment.
The pain increased, and reluctantly Snape rose, quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping child. He had no choice but to attend, the call would become more insistent, the pain worsening, until he did so. The sooner Dumbledore found a way of freeing him from his connection to the dark wizard, the better. Not that it would matter, not now. He realised he would be unlikely to survive this call. Jane would be furious with him, after her pain abated.
Dressing quickly but quietly, he left his bedchamber and moved to his desk. He wanted Jane to know everything was alright between them, but he didn't wish to disturb her sleep, particularly to tell her he had been called, even if it was unlikely that he would return. The poor child had been through enough, he reflected, it was unnecessary to wake her just so she could watch him walk out of her life forever. Dumbledore could explain later. Sitting tiredly, he pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and ink, and wrote her a brief note, forgiving her and asking for her forgiveness in return. The last word he wrote was 'goodbye' - just in case.
He was returning the items to his drawer when his master called again, and he almost spilled the contents of his ink well. Damn the man. Standing, he returned to the door of his bedchamber and watched the sleeping girl for a minute more, enjoying it while he had the chance. She seemed so beautiful like that, and he enjoyed watching her sleeping peacefully now. He only wished he would be around to spend the rest of his life doing the same thing. He knew that was unlikely.
Moving from his chambers, he made his way upwards to the Headmaster's office, before leaving Hogwarts for what he expected would be the last time. He didn't look back. He couldn't bear to.
**********
Jane looked around. Severus was nowhere to be found. There was no sign of him either, except for the brief note forgiving her and asking for her forgiveness in return. He hadn't been in his classroom either. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She barely remembered the previous night, but she did remember that she had had a nightmare, and he had comforted her. Now he was gone without giving her a chance to thank him, and while she really had no idea where, she had a nasty suspicion that he had been called.
She left the dungeons and made her way upward, glad she could now navigate around the halls without getting lost, or mobbed by young witches and wizards interested in meeting 'Snape's new friend'. Not that that had been a problem after her recent behaviour. Even her friends were avoiding her. Jane realised she would have to fix that, but Severus was her main concern at the moment, she could sort out the rest of her problems once she knew where he was.
Sticking her head into the Great Hall, she saw Ron and Harry playing wizard's chess. Hermione was reading as usual.
"Hey, have you guys seen Severus?"
The three 6th years looked at one another - slightly suspicious of her. They had all borne the brunt of her frustration over the last few weeks. Sensing something had changed though they shook their heads.
"No, sorry Jane. We haven't seen him since potions this morning." Harry answered. "Come to think of it, he was kind of acting strange and left in a bit of a hurry at the end of class too."
"Oh," Jane looked forlorn at this new information.
The three Gryffindors looked at one another. Yes, something had happened to change Jane's attitude - they all wondered what.
The three students looked at Jane. "What happened? Are you alright?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"I had a bit of a nightmare last night." Jane confided.
Hermione looked at Jane. "Oh, I'm sorry." She could imagine what the nightmare was about. Jane hadn't said much about her past, not after their first meetings, but Snape had explained a little of what she had survived, hoping it would convince her to forgive Jane for her recent cruelty.
"So am I. I have been a bitch recently. To everyone. Can you forgive me?" Jane desperately wanted her friends back. She needed them.
Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at her. "Don't worry we forgive you. Besides, you haven't been THAT bad." Harry smiled.
Jane breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. You have all been wonderful. I feel terrible that I upset you." Jane wiped her eyes, not wanting to cry.
Hermione smiled at her. "Don't worry, we understand. Does Professor Snape know of your change in attitude? He has been really worried about you."
Jane nodded. "Yes. We argued last night because I did something stupid, but when I had the nightmare, he came and held me until everything was ok again. When I woke up this morning I wanted to thank him, but he was gone. He left a note saying it was ok, but I really want him to know I am sorry and feel terrible for what I did. He has been so tired and worried recently he didn't need me adding to his troubles."
Remembering her quest, Jane sighed. "Thanks guys, for everything." She smiled. "I really mean it. I guess I will go to Dumbledore then. He will know where he is." Because he has probably sent him back to Voldemort again, she thought angrily.
Jane still couldn't comprehend what made the old wizard send Severus into danger, and she would never forgive him for it. Reluctantly though, she had to concede that she needed him. She needed to be just nice enough that he would tell her what was going on. If Severus was gone he would know about it.
Harry jumped up, knocking over some chess pieces, which let out howls of indignation before returning themselves to their previous positions. "Hold on, I will come with you. I need to see him anyway." He strode to the door and followed Jane out.
When he was beside her, and out of earshot of his two friends, he reached down and touched her shoulder; pleased she no longer flinched at his touch. "Jane, don't get upset, but my scar has been hurting all morning."
Jane looked up at Harry, understanding what he meant. "You mean Voldemort?"
Harry liked the way Jane didn't get all uptight about saying the name. He knew she didn't really understand half of what the dark wizard was capable of, but she had her own problems where he was concerned, yet she still said the name as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes. I think he has been called. Professor Dumbledore will know for sure."
Jane nodded and increased her pace, almost running up the stairs. She stopped at the gargoyle and looked up. Harry was about to say the password when Jane reached out and touched the stone sculpture. "Let me in please," she whispered. "I need to see the Headmaster."
Harry was surprised when the gargoyle moved aside and bowed, allowing them to pass. The wards around the school had been adjusted to allow the new resident to pass freely; obviously so had some of the wards within the school. No one else could enter Dumbledore's office without the correct password, but it was now clear to Harry that a person also needed to be magic for the password to work. Jane had no magic, so alternative arrangements had been made to provide her access when necessary.
**********
Dumbledore greeted them at the door, smiling.
"Where is he?" Jane demanded without hesitation or the courtesy of wasting time on pleasantries.
Dumbledore continued to smile at the girl, even though Harry thought he saw sadness rise in his eyes. The old wizard knew the girl, his grand daughter, didn't trust him. He knew she despised him for sending 'her Severus' away. He despised himself almost as much for the same reason. He hated sending the younger man into such peril, particularly after promising him his freedom.
"I expect you are referring to Professor Snape."
"Of course Headmaster." Jane snapped. Dumbledore thought she was sounding more and more like the surly Potions Master every day.
"I am afraid he was called away, just before lunch. He told me to expect you, and asked me to tell you he didn't wish to wake you after the nightmare you had last night because you needed to rest." He turned to Harry, not wanting to see the fleeting look of guilt on Jane's face. "Has your scar been bothering you Harry?"
"Yes Sir."
Dumbledore nodded gravely. "I thought it might be. I don't think it will be too long before we must face the final battle."
"And you allowed him to go!" Jane butted in. Harry noted the anger and resentment in her voice. "You have the power to stop him. Only you. And yet you still allowed him to go. How can you risk his life so lightly?" The girl accused.
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "That is his role in all this I am afraid until we can find a way to remove that mark from his arm, or until we defeat the Dark Lord."
"And I thought he was Potions Master!" Jane was almost screaming now. She was frantic. Again he had been called, and again she had been unable to help him. She was just as angry at herself as she was at Dumbledore, but that didn't matter at that point. Even if she had been awake so he could tell her, he still would have answered the call, because Dumbledore desired him to.
"Jane, please, it will be all right." Harry touched her shoulder, hoping to soothe the anxious young girl, but she pulled away.
"No Harry, not this time. Who does he think he is sending Severus off like that? Voldemort knows he is a spy. That much is obvious, even just from the injuries he inflicts, so why does he send him?" She glared at Dumbledore, and the old wizard almost flinched at the anger in the girl's eyes. His own grand daughter had condemned him.
"Jane, please." Harry tried again.
"I said no." Jane flicked his hand away vehemently. "He claims to care for Severus, yet how can he when he keeps sending him off to his death. Severus has suffered enough for the mistakes HE made," Jane asserted, pointing at the Headmaster. "I won't stand for it any longer. He almost died last time, and the time before. Is that what you want Headmaster?" She gave Dumbledore a withering look, eyes blazing with fury. "Well?"
Harry stood, stunned, mouth open. He had never seen anybody attack Dumbledore like that. Even the Ministry and the dreadful Dolores Umbridge had never been so openly hostile as this little girl. Harry wondered where Jane's knife was; suddenly concerned that she might try and use it in her anger. He was surprised that Dumbledore did nothing to defend himself, he didn't even say anything, he just stood there silent, sad, and accepted Jane's angry words.
Dumbledore looked Jane, more upset by her attack, and the situation, than either child would ever know, and for good reason. It confirmed his decision not to tell the girl of their relationship. That would have only complicated the situation, and would have changed nothing.
"Child, I am sorry you feel this way, but we need any information we can get if we are to be properly prepared for the upcoming battle. Even the smallest piece of information is worth the risk." He finished quietly.
"Screw you! How about you tell me what he brought back in the way of information last time, or the time before. Oh, that's right, you can't because he didn't bring any information back. That's right, the last thing he brought back was me, and I am sure I have been really helpful in the fight against Voldemort. Oh, and there were the injuries that nearly killed him twice."
"Jane, you are right." Dumbledore admitted quietly, eyes dulled by sadness. "He has served above and beyond requirements, and you are also right in that he is no longer a trusted servant of the Dark Lord. I was foolish to allow him to return, but now there is little we can do except to wait for Severus to return to us."
Harry, the silent witness to the exchange, watched Dumbledore. He could sense that making that admission had cost the older wizard dearly. It had somehow broken his spirit. While Harry himself had never liked Snape, probably because of the years of torment he had suffered through, he had come to respect the role he played in the battle against the dark. He knew too, that Dumbledore cared for the obnoxious Potions Master like a son and loosing him was not something he wished to see happen.
"Wrong Headmaster. I can do something." Jane pulled the locket out from under her jumper. Dumbledore gasped as he recognised the locator pendant he had given to Severus upon his return to the light as a spy. So that was what Severus had meant when he said her protection had been taken care of.
"Jane, please don't use that."
"I am guessing this isn't what he intended me to use this for, but I won't let him go off and die like this. I won't let him die alone. I am at least going to TRY and help him. Unlike some others who claim to care for him."
Harry looked at the girl, wondering what she meant, aware that Dumbledore was extremely worried by the locket the girl was wearing. He didn't recognise it, but knew Hermione would know what it was. Unfortunately by the time he had a chance to consult her it would be too late. He waited to see what would happen next.
"Jane, please no. You can't just go off like this. It is far too dangerous. You have no way to protect yourself." Dumbledore realised that he was about to loose his grand daughter. If she went to Severus, and he was with the Death Eaters, he knew exactly the type of treatment she would receive. Death would be a merciful end, but there were far worse alternatives, alternatives he hated to think about, and he shuddered at the thought that she had probably already lived through some of them.
"Oh, that's right and he does! At least I have this." Jane pulled the knife out from her pocket.
Dumbledore noticed the eyes of the entwined snakes were glowing with a fire he had only seen on one previous occasion, a lifetime ago. He swallowed, trying to displace the lump that rose in his throat. "Jane, please. give me the knife."
Dumbledore knew he had to get that knife. Loosing the girl and the Potions Master would be bad enough, but to loose the knife as well would spell the end of the fight - all hope would be lost. Harry needed that knife - he had to have it to defeat Voldemort in the final battle. Allowing the girl to take it with her on this foolish mission to save the Potions Master, who was most likely already dead, would be disastrous. "Please give me the knife Jane."
"Get fucked. I am sick of being told what to do by arseholes like you. I am sick of letting everyone else fight my battles. I have been a fool for too long and grown soft under Severus' protection. Now is the time I regain my spirit and fight back." Grasping the locket, Jane's next words were so quiet that Harry nearly missed them. "Invenio Secutus." To Harry's amazement, Jane disapparated.
Ok, so here it is - the second last chapter. Only one to go, plus the epilogue.
Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support, particularly those who have been reviewing regularly.
Just a little warning. There is some nasty language in the last few paragraphs of this. The F word is used a couple of times.
Please read and review. Thanks.
*********************************************************
Snape was drawn out of sleep, not really understanding why. It was far too early to be waking after the night he had had. A brief tinge of pain struck him at the memory of the previous night's events, at the Jane's destruction of his things, and the argument that ensured, then he remembered too, the painful memories that his anger had brought her, and finally, happily, he remembered their reconciliation.
He smiled; she was now sleeping peacefully in his bed, still clasping his hand as she had been since he had placed her there. The thought that she had been able to see through his anger and forgive him was encouraging. In the past, he knew only too well, that she would have fled. It had been a similar situation, not so very long ago, that had been the start of their most recent problems.
Moving slowly, muscles aching from their night in an uncomfortable chair rather than the bed the child was using; but trying not to waken the exhausted child, he pondered what had disturbed his own sleep, sleep that was so desperately needed. Pain shot up his arm. Voldemort! He considered ignoring the call, knowing only too well what attending his "Master" would most likely mean, given the increasing severity of his punishment.
The pain increased, and reluctantly Snape rose, quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping child. He had no choice but to attend, the call would become more insistent, the pain worsening, until he did so. The sooner Dumbledore found a way of freeing him from his connection to the dark wizard, the better. Not that it would matter, not now. He realised he would be unlikely to survive this call. Jane would be furious with him, after her pain abated.
Dressing quickly but quietly, he left his bedchamber and moved to his desk. He wanted Jane to know everything was alright between them, but he didn't wish to disturb her sleep, particularly to tell her he had been called, even if it was unlikely that he would return. The poor child had been through enough, he reflected, it was unnecessary to wake her just so she could watch him walk out of her life forever. Dumbledore could explain later. Sitting tiredly, he pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill and ink, and wrote her a brief note, forgiving her and asking for her forgiveness in return. The last word he wrote was 'goodbye' - just in case.
He was returning the items to his drawer when his master called again, and he almost spilled the contents of his ink well. Damn the man. Standing, he returned to the door of his bedchamber and watched the sleeping girl for a minute more, enjoying it while he had the chance. She seemed so beautiful like that, and he enjoyed watching her sleeping peacefully now. He only wished he would be around to spend the rest of his life doing the same thing. He knew that was unlikely.
Moving from his chambers, he made his way upwards to the Headmaster's office, before leaving Hogwarts for what he expected would be the last time. He didn't look back. He couldn't bear to.
**********
Jane looked around. Severus was nowhere to be found. There was no sign of him either, except for the brief note forgiving her and asking for her forgiveness in return. He hadn't been in his classroom either. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She barely remembered the previous night, but she did remember that she had had a nightmare, and he had comforted her. Now he was gone without giving her a chance to thank him, and while she really had no idea where, she had a nasty suspicion that he had been called.
She left the dungeons and made her way upward, glad she could now navigate around the halls without getting lost, or mobbed by young witches and wizards interested in meeting 'Snape's new friend'. Not that that had been a problem after her recent behaviour. Even her friends were avoiding her. Jane realised she would have to fix that, but Severus was her main concern at the moment, she could sort out the rest of her problems once she knew where he was.
Sticking her head into the Great Hall, she saw Ron and Harry playing wizard's chess. Hermione was reading as usual.
"Hey, have you guys seen Severus?"
The three 6th years looked at one another - slightly suspicious of her. They had all borne the brunt of her frustration over the last few weeks. Sensing something had changed though they shook their heads.
"No, sorry Jane. We haven't seen him since potions this morning." Harry answered. "Come to think of it, he was kind of acting strange and left in a bit of a hurry at the end of class too."
"Oh," Jane looked forlorn at this new information.
The three Gryffindors looked at one another. Yes, something had happened to change Jane's attitude - they all wondered what.
The three students looked at Jane. "What happened? Are you alright?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"I had a bit of a nightmare last night." Jane confided.
Hermione looked at Jane. "Oh, I'm sorry." She could imagine what the nightmare was about. Jane hadn't said much about her past, not after their first meetings, but Snape had explained a little of what she had survived, hoping it would convince her to forgive Jane for her recent cruelty.
"So am I. I have been a bitch recently. To everyone. Can you forgive me?" Jane desperately wanted her friends back. She needed them.
Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at her. "Don't worry we forgive you. Besides, you haven't been THAT bad." Harry smiled.
Jane breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. You have all been wonderful. I feel terrible that I upset you." Jane wiped her eyes, not wanting to cry.
Hermione smiled at her. "Don't worry, we understand. Does Professor Snape know of your change in attitude? He has been really worried about you."
Jane nodded. "Yes. We argued last night because I did something stupid, but when I had the nightmare, he came and held me until everything was ok again. When I woke up this morning I wanted to thank him, but he was gone. He left a note saying it was ok, but I really want him to know I am sorry and feel terrible for what I did. He has been so tired and worried recently he didn't need me adding to his troubles."
Remembering her quest, Jane sighed. "Thanks guys, for everything." She smiled. "I really mean it. I guess I will go to Dumbledore then. He will know where he is." Because he has probably sent him back to Voldemort again, she thought angrily.
Jane still couldn't comprehend what made the old wizard send Severus into danger, and she would never forgive him for it. Reluctantly though, she had to concede that she needed him. She needed to be just nice enough that he would tell her what was going on. If Severus was gone he would know about it.
Harry jumped up, knocking over some chess pieces, which let out howls of indignation before returning themselves to their previous positions. "Hold on, I will come with you. I need to see him anyway." He strode to the door and followed Jane out.
When he was beside her, and out of earshot of his two friends, he reached down and touched her shoulder; pleased she no longer flinched at his touch. "Jane, don't get upset, but my scar has been hurting all morning."
Jane looked up at Harry, understanding what he meant. "You mean Voldemort?"
Harry liked the way Jane didn't get all uptight about saying the name. He knew she didn't really understand half of what the dark wizard was capable of, but she had her own problems where he was concerned, yet she still said the name as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Yes. I think he has been called. Professor Dumbledore will know for sure."
Jane nodded and increased her pace, almost running up the stairs. She stopped at the gargoyle and looked up. Harry was about to say the password when Jane reached out and touched the stone sculpture. "Let me in please," she whispered. "I need to see the Headmaster."
Harry was surprised when the gargoyle moved aside and bowed, allowing them to pass. The wards around the school had been adjusted to allow the new resident to pass freely; obviously so had some of the wards within the school. No one else could enter Dumbledore's office without the correct password, but it was now clear to Harry that a person also needed to be magic for the password to work. Jane had no magic, so alternative arrangements had been made to provide her access when necessary.
**********
Dumbledore greeted them at the door, smiling.
"Where is he?" Jane demanded without hesitation or the courtesy of wasting time on pleasantries.
Dumbledore continued to smile at the girl, even though Harry thought he saw sadness rise in his eyes. The old wizard knew the girl, his grand daughter, didn't trust him. He knew she despised him for sending 'her Severus' away. He despised himself almost as much for the same reason. He hated sending the younger man into such peril, particularly after promising him his freedom.
"I expect you are referring to Professor Snape."
"Of course Headmaster." Jane snapped. Dumbledore thought she was sounding more and more like the surly Potions Master every day.
"I am afraid he was called away, just before lunch. He told me to expect you, and asked me to tell you he didn't wish to wake you after the nightmare you had last night because you needed to rest." He turned to Harry, not wanting to see the fleeting look of guilt on Jane's face. "Has your scar been bothering you Harry?"
"Yes Sir."
Dumbledore nodded gravely. "I thought it might be. I don't think it will be too long before we must face the final battle."
"And you allowed him to go!" Jane butted in. Harry noted the anger and resentment in her voice. "You have the power to stop him. Only you. And yet you still allowed him to go. How can you risk his life so lightly?" The girl accused.
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "That is his role in all this I am afraid until we can find a way to remove that mark from his arm, or until we defeat the Dark Lord."
"And I thought he was Potions Master!" Jane was almost screaming now. She was frantic. Again he had been called, and again she had been unable to help him. She was just as angry at herself as she was at Dumbledore, but that didn't matter at that point. Even if she had been awake so he could tell her, he still would have answered the call, because Dumbledore desired him to.
"Jane, please, it will be all right." Harry touched her shoulder, hoping to soothe the anxious young girl, but she pulled away.
"No Harry, not this time. Who does he think he is sending Severus off like that? Voldemort knows he is a spy. That much is obvious, even just from the injuries he inflicts, so why does he send him?" She glared at Dumbledore, and the old wizard almost flinched at the anger in the girl's eyes. His own grand daughter had condemned him.
"Jane, please." Harry tried again.
"I said no." Jane flicked his hand away vehemently. "He claims to care for Severus, yet how can he when he keeps sending him off to his death. Severus has suffered enough for the mistakes HE made," Jane asserted, pointing at the Headmaster. "I won't stand for it any longer. He almost died last time, and the time before. Is that what you want Headmaster?" She gave Dumbledore a withering look, eyes blazing with fury. "Well?"
Harry stood, stunned, mouth open. He had never seen anybody attack Dumbledore like that. Even the Ministry and the dreadful Dolores Umbridge had never been so openly hostile as this little girl. Harry wondered where Jane's knife was; suddenly concerned that she might try and use it in her anger. He was surprised that Dumbledore did nothing to defend himself, he didn't even say anything, he just stood there silent, sad, and accepted Jane's angry words.
Dumbledore looked Jane, more upset by her attack, and the situation, than either child would ever know, and for good reason. It confirmed his decision not to tell the girl of their relationship. That would have only complicated the situation, and would have changed nothing.
"Child, I am sorry you feel this way, but we need any information we can get if we are to be properly prepared for the upcoming battle. Even the smallest piece of information is worth the risk." He finished quietly.
"Screw you! How about you tell me what he brought back in the way of information last time, or the time before. Oh, that's right, you can't because he didn't bring any information back. That's right, the last thing he brought back was me, and I am sure I have been really helpful in the fight against Voldemort. Oh, and there were the injuries that nearly killed him twice."
"Jane, you are right." Dumbledore admitted quietly, eyes dulled by sadness. "He has served above and beyond requirements, and you are also right in that he is no longer a trusted servant of the Dark Lord. I was foolish to allow him to return, but now there is little we can do except to wait for Severus to return to us."
Harry, the silent witness to the exchange, watched Dumbledore. He could sense that making that admission had cost the older wizard dearly. It had somehow broken his spirit. While Harry himself had never liked Snape, probably because of the years of torment he had suffered through, he had come to respect the role he played in the battle against the dark. He knew too, that Dumbledore cared for the obnoxious Potions Master like a son and loosing him was not something he wished to see happen.
"Wrong Headmaster. I can do something." Jane pulled the locket out from under her jumper. Dumbledore gasped as he recognised the locator pendant he had given to Severus upon his return to the light as a spy. So that was what Severus had meant when he said her protection had been taken care of.
"Jane, please don't use that."
"I am guessing this isn't what he intended me to use this for, but I won't let him go off and die like this. I won't let him die alone. I am at least going to TRY and help him. Unlike some others who claim to care for him."
Harry looked at the girl, wondering what she meant, aware that Dumbledore was extremely worried by the locket the girl was wearing. He didn't recognise it, but knew Hermione would know what it was. Unfortunately by the time he had a chance to consult her it would be too late. He waited to see what would happen next.
"Jane, please no. You can't just go off like this. It is far too dangerous. You have no way to protect yourself." Dumbledore realised that he was about to loose his grand daughter. If she went to Severus, and he was with the Death Eaters, he knew exactly the type of treatment she would receive. Death would be a merciful end, but there were far worse alternatives, alternatives he hated to think about, and he shuddered at the thought that she had probably already lived through some of them.
"Oh, that's right and he does! At least I have this." Jane pulled the knife out from her pocket.
Dumbledore noticed the eyes of the entwined snakes were glowing with a fire he had only seen on one previous occasion, a lifetime ago. He swallowed, trying to displace the lump that rose in his throat. "Jane, please. give me the knife."
Dumbledore knew he had to get that knife. Loosing the girl and the Potions Master would be bad enough, but to loose the knife as well would spell the end of the fight - all hope would be lost. Harry needed that knife - he had to have it to defeat Voldemort in the final battle. Allowing the girl to take it with her on this foolish mission to save the Potions Master, who was most likely already dead, would be disastrous. "Please give me the knife Jane."
"Get fucked. I am sick of being told what to do by arseholes like you. I am sick of letting everyone else fight my battles. I have been a fool for too long and grown soft under Severus' protection. Now is the time I regain my spirit and fight back." Grasping the locket, Jane's next words were so quiet that Harry nearly missed them. "Invenio Secutus." To Harry's amazement, Jane disapparated.