Disclaimer: I do not own a thing! Nothing whatsoever! Nada! All I have is my sanity...no...wait....I do even have that!!!!
Harry once again found himself in the black hallway, but this time the large doors were open. Inside he found Snape on the ground, obviously in much pain, and Lucius standing over him grinning. Voldemort stood, and motioned for Lucius to pick up Severus. He then walked up and stood face to face with Severus.
"I do hope you know I have your life in my hands." Severus smirked.
"I do hope you know I could care less." Voldemort laughed,
"I think you will start caring, I also will determine the fate of your son." This made Severus very angry. Missing his wand, he tried to hit Voldemort, but then realized his hands were tied behind his back. Harry watched this with fascination, he never knew Severus had a son, nor had he ever seen Severus get so mad so fast; Voldemort just laughed.
"Yes, I know. I am surprised you kept it a secret this long, especially from him. But the time draws near that he shall know, as well as the rest of the world, and what a shock that will be." By now Severus was audibly growling. "A loyal follower of the Dark Lord the father of..." He could not finish the sentence, Severus had gotten free of the ropes and lunged after him. Lucius tried to grab him, but was thrown across the room before getting near him. Voldemort jumped back and threw a powerful Cruciatus Curse at him. Severus fell back to the floor, rolling in agony. Voldemort stood over him, grinning maliciously, and Lucius lay where he had landed, unconscious to the outside world. Harry sat stunned, all that happened took place in seconds and his brain was trying to catch up. Voldemort retreated to his throne, taking off the curse.
"You know, I had hopes for you, you were to be my second in command; but you threw it all away, and for that you will suffer." Severus sat up, still supporting himself.
"Then go ahead and kill me." Again Voldemort grinned, but this time it was different, it was as though every evil thought that crossed his mind was shown in that one smile.
"I have things planned for you...and your son as well."
"You lay one bloody hand on my son and..." The dream began to fade, but Harry fought to stay, if not just a little longer.
"You can do nothing to me, you are weak. And as for you son, Harry Potter, or should I say Harry Snape, will be delivered right into my clutches, by you."
"I will do no such thing!"
"Oh, but you will." The dream began to fade once more, and though Harry fought hard to keep it from doing so, he found himself back in his rooms.
Severus woke early that morning to a house elf bouncing on his bed. He shot up and, having grabbed his wand from under his pillow, sent a curse flying (it was too dark to see that it was just an elf), but the elf disappeared. Growling, Severus got out of bed and stretched. It couldn't be later than one o'clock, much too early for any sane person to be awake. Presently the elf reappeared a few feet from Severus.
"Headmaster sent Dobby to tell Professor Snape to meet him in his office, Sir." With that the elf once again disappeared, knowing full well how grumpy Snape was in the morning.
"That figures." Severus growled into the darkness. He waved his wand and lit his rooms. It took him a couple of minutes to get dressed, but was soon stalking through the halls to Dumbledore's office.
Upon arriving at Dumbledore's office, Severus found the entire Order was there (quite a feat considering how busy the members were what with all the raids) and already convened. It was as though Severus had walked in right in the middle of the meeting. Dumbledore stood to greet him.
"Severus, quite on time. Please come have a seat by me." Severus did so, looking around the room at the many faces, most of them looking at him in pity. This made him angry; Dumbledore already told them and they made up their minds. Yes, by now they probably all agreed that they would take Severus from the position of spying, and with that take away everything he had worked for, nay, his very life. He did not need their pity, nor did he need them to protect him. No matter how many battles they had seen, nothing that ever had, or ever would, pass before their eyes would compare to what he had seen in his. And nothing could change the fact that he was a part of it, the only hope lay in what he was doing. Outweighing the good with the bad was what he first hoped to accomplish; doing enough good that the bad wouldn't matter anymore. But he soon found out that was not achievable. No matter how many lives he saved, how many cities were kept from lying in total destruction, there were always the ghosts of those lives he ruined. The faces he saw in the dark, begging, pleading for a life that was no longer in existence. No amount of good deeds or charitable actions would get rid of those faces. The faces of men, having never once in their life shed a tear, now bawling in terror, or the children, whose lives hadn't even began, not understanding what was happening, but crying over the fact that their mother wasn't moving, wasn't acknowledging their presence, hanging on to her cold hand and calling her name. No, nothing he could do would be rid of that, save death; and even then, his soul would probably be cursed to roam the earth forever, full of guilt about those he could save, if only he were alive again. He jerked himself out of those thoughts and forced himself to pay attention to what was happening.
"Ms. Winter, please inform the Order of your discovery." Severus jerked his head up. He did not realize she was here, or even a part of the Order. She stood, holding a piece of parchment that looked to be at least fifty years old.
"I did some research and found a spell that is able to remove the dark mark from Severus's skin. It was made to take away any evil sign or symbol magically held to a person's skin. It must be performed by a healer and will only be completely removed when that which put the symbol on the person is deceased or no longer has power of any sort." Dumbledore nodded from his place at the head of the circle.
"Are their any major risks involved?" Severus looked and thought he saw something of fear in her eyes, but it soon passed away.
"If the healer is able to perform the spell accurately, the risk is low. But, if something is amiss, then the mark could be transported to them exactly, making them a member of whatever cult if the leader is still alive, or..." She stopped for a second, trying to decide how to phrase the next sentence. "...or their soul could get trapped eternally in a Pandora's box, never being able to get back to reality." There was a tense silence, no one wanting to say anything, yet everyone having something to say, but each one thinking the same thing, 'who in their right mind would put themselves through such a risk'. Dumbledore rubbed his forehead, and Severus heard him mumble something about it being impossible to find someone that would take that risk when Serenity spoke up. "I will be willing to perform the spell whenever Severus is ready." The people around her stared at her as though she had grown an extra head. Severus looked dumbfounded, why would she take such a risk for him? But she stared at him with confidence. She had made up her mind long ago and intended to stick with her decision. Now Severus spoke up.
"You will not need to do that, I do not intend to leave my position. What information I obtain is vital to the Order, and without that information, we would most certainly lose the war." This started a two-hour argument, which ended abruptly when Dumbledore called everybody to order and agreed with Severus. At that, Severus shook his head. It was as though they were arguing for Dumbledore's sake only. After discussing various other businesses, the meeting officially ended about six o'clock, when breakfast in the Great Hall started. The crowd left the office slowly, and eventually only Dumbledore, Severus and Seri were left in there. Severus walked over to Seri.
"I am sorry about the way I spoke to you the other night. I was angry and not thinking straight." She smiled at him.
"All is forgiven if I can join you for lunch." He smiled as well.
"If you want I can have it brought up here."
"The Great Hall will be fine, I haven't been there in years." Severus proceeded to lead her there, and they talked along the way like old friends. After breakfast Seri left for work and Severus for his office, to catch up on much needed sleep.
I awoke with a start, pushing out of my mind the haunting memories relived in dreams. I usually don't sleep deep enough to really dream, but as early as I was up this morning... I stretch, trying to get out the many cramps I received from having the foolishness of sleeping in my desk chair. I have the vague notion that something is out of the ordinary (and a very large headache) but I quickly push both aside. I swing my legs off the table, but fall and hit the...roof...but that can't be right. I look closely at the ground on which I am standing only to discover that it is truly my floor. With a groan I look up; my entire office is sitting on the roof. Everything is upside-down, exactly over the space in which it should be, down to the last quill. Black must have done it. I do not know how or when, but there is no mistaking his style; and the fact that he did the same prank to the DADA professor when we were in school. Pulling out my wand, I recite the same spell the professor used, expecting the same results. The furniture turned over, but don't come back to the floor. I ponder this for a second, but notice that my walls are sprouting daisies...and singing. I listen to hear the words:
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray..."
At this point my head is swirling. I decide it best not to try and correct it (just in case there are other pranks) and stomp out of my rooms, straight to the werewolf's classroom.
Remus was in the middle of explaining the differences between curse and a hex when the door of his classroom burst open and in stepped a very angry Severus Snape. As he entered the room, a few of the girls in the first row squealed, and scooted their chairs backwards. The Professor was so angry one could feel it radiating from him, and it was not at all comforting. He walked up to Remus and gave him a death glare.
"We need to talk, now!" Remus closed his eyes and silently cursed, apparently Sirius made it back earlier than expected. He turned to address the class.
"For homework, I want a small essay comparing the effects of natural hexes as compared to similar curses, class is dismissed. Harry, you are to report to the Headmasters office." The speed at which the students gathered their things and were out of the room was astounding. Severus sneered.
"Meet me in my office in ten minutes." He stalked back out of the room, leaving Remus to get his stuff together.
Harry sat nervously across from Dumbledore. Sirius had just left to pick up some things from Hogsmeade, and Harry (not being able to accompany him) stayed with Dumbledore, but then again, he had some things to discuss with the Headmaster.
"Harry, do you have something you wish to tell me?"Dumbledore asked, as though reading his mind. Harry sighed, and closed his eyes. He didn't know why he was so nervous about a simple dream, but something was telling it wasn't just a dream.
"Yes, Professor, it is about a dream I had last night; actually I had the second part last night. The first part I had at the beginning of the year..." Harry proceeded to tell Dumbledore about both dreams in surprisingly accurate detail, yet Dumbledore remained impassive, and listened intently. When Harry finished he looked questioningly at Dumbledore, "Do you think that the dream is real, I mean..." Dumbledore leaned back and looked sympathetically at Harry.
"I think that it is best discussed with Professor Snape. He is the only one with the answers you need."
Draco walked slowly through the corridors. He walked alone, thinking, contemplating on what he recently overheard. It made little sense at first, but after thinking for a while, the pieces fell together. He remembered his father talking about Snape's infatuation with a muggle-born. It seemed merely a funny tale (and quite untrue) before, but now...he shook his head. What happened to corrupt Snape that he might go against his entire family to be with a bitch like that? At least the Dark Lord saved him and brought him back to his senses; too bad he betrayed Lord Voldemort and bore his enemy. It is sad, really; that git had everything, including a prominent position in Lord Voldemort's organization, and now it all is going to be ripped from him, as well as his life. Draco chuckled a little as he thought about the conversation he overheard...
Draco had been walking by Snape's office and decided to stop a second to see if he heard Snape in there. He crept to the door and put his ear to the wood.
"I promised Albus I wouldn't say anything. He didn't want you to do something you would regret."
"Yes, but that bloody mutt can do whatever he pleases?!"
"Severus calm down, you sound like a child! If I had known what he would do, I would have said something."
"Why should I believe you, for all I know, you already told him!" There was a tense silence. "I mean..."
"So that's it; your afraid he will find out."
"I...well...It is his godson, Remus, you cannot expect him to take the news lightly!" a heavy sigh.
"I think you should be more worried about Harry's reaction, Severus. If he chooses to accept you as his father, then he will tell Sirius himself."
Draco grinned, this was information he would deliver to the Dark Lord personally, and he would get the perfect chance at initiation tonight.
A/N: Yes! We are at the good part, and I am going to have so much fun writing the next chapter! *rubs hands together* and the end of the next chapter, I am sure you will absolutely love it! *smiles innocently as red tail swishes behind her* Until next time!!!!!!!
I do not have time to do thankyous at the moment, as I want to put up this chapter now, so I will do this:
Thanks Everyone Who Reviewed!!!!!!!!!!!!!