***Severus' Memory***

He had woken up three weeks later with a feeling of hope, a feeling that someone accepted him for who he was. Albus was waiting for him with a box of lemon sherbets and a new bottle of Fire Whiskey. He looked as though his emotions could tear him apart at any moment, the twinkle in his eyes flickered unsure of whether it was meant to die or not.

Severus had looked at the old man for a while trying to work out the answers to all his own questions. The mixture of emotions made it too hard for even Severus, a man adept at reading people's emotions. Sighing he asked for the good news first, in hope he wanted to know she was ok, though part of him knew it was false hope. Albus smiled thinly and as the twinkle glistened, "Voldemort has been beaten once and for all Severus. Our mission was a success, all thanks to you. You are no longer a spy, you are a free man, apart from still being my Potions master", he wanly chuckled. Severus knew better than to ask, but he had to know, he had changed since that night.

Severus saw Albus' face fall before he had even asked about her. "She's gone, Severus. She's gone." The twinkle returned to Albus' eyes, but it was just tears threatening to fall. Severus felt his new world collapse and he hit his pillow in rage.

***End Memory***