Severus was woken by the feeling of a warm hand on his shoulder, urging him
to wake. Blearily, he opened his eyes to see Albus smiling kindly at him.
"It is time, Severus", he soothed. 'Time for what?' Severus wondered. When
he had sat up, his cloak wrapped around him for warmth, Albus handed him a
cup of warm cocoa that he accepted blandly.
Albus handed him a turn turner, not any one, but Minerva's, the one that Hermione had used in the third year. He felt the sorrow and frustration building inside him, "Why do you torture me?!" he shook with fear and cold. Albus, simply smiled, "It is time for you to do what you must do Severus." Sensing his confusion he continued, "If you want to see how this should end, you must go back for her, but you must be careful as you can change what has already happened with one wrong move."
Severus suddenly understood what he was being told; he was being given his one chance of happiness. He stood, newly filled with strength, though he couldn't be sure that the cocoa hadn't be spiked.
Striding towards the exact spot where it happened, Severus drew out his wand and spun the time turner. Days, weeks, months passed until he saw what he wanted. Abruptly he stopped the turner and tiptoed into the shadows. From here he saw it all, he saw the Dark Lord, himself stumbling backwards. This time he heard the pop of her apparating and he saw her face, full of love and determination, fear and bravery, as she ran forwards to save his life. At the same time he too ran forward, seeing himself blackout, he lifted his wand to deflect the killing curse. It bounced with vigour as Hermione tripped over another tree root, screaming as she fell. He caught her in his arms as the curse hit The Dark Lord, turning him to dust.
Panting, he let Hermione down gently on the floor. He saw the surprise and confusion in her eyes, and before she could say anything, ask anything, he said quietly, "Let me be. We will have our time, but the time must wait, otherwise you will die instead of sitting here." And with that, he was gone.
Albus handed him a turn turner, not any one, but Minerva's, the one that Hermione had used in the third year. He felt the sorrow and frustration building inside him, "Why do you torture me?!" he shook with fear and cold. Albus, simply smiled, "It is time for you to do what you must do Severus." Sensing his confusion he continued, "If you want to see how this should end, you must go back for her, but you must be careful as you can change what has already happened with one wrong move."
Severus suddenly understood what he was being told; he was being given his one chance of happiness. He stood, newly filled with strength, though he couldn't be sure that the cocoa hadn't be spiked.
Striding towards the exact spot where it happened, Severus drew out his wand and spun the time turner. Days, weeks, months passed until he saw what he wanted. Abruptly he stopped the turner and tiptoed into the shadows. From here he saw it all, he saw the Dark Lord, himself stumbling backwards. This time he heard the pop of her apparating and he saw her face, full of love and determination, fear and bravery, as she ran forwards to save his life. At the same time he too ran forward, seeing himself blackout, he lifted his wand to deflect the killing curse. It bounced with vigour as Hermione tripped over another tree root, screaming as she fell. He caught her in his arms as the curse hit The Dark Lord, turning him to dust.
Panting, he let Hermione down gently on the floor. He saw the surprise and confusion in her eyes, and before she could say anything, ask anything, he said quietly, "Let me be. We will have our time, but the time must wait, otherwise you will die instead of sitting here." And with that, he was gone.
