Draco began to loose Snape's cravat and was soon joined by Hermione, who unbuttoned the professor's collar.

"Sir, can you hear me?" Hermione said. "Harry's unconscious."

"He-Who-Must... Not-Be-Named... is t- trying to-" Snape felt as though his arm was being branded. He moaned and shuddered. It couldn't be mere phantom pain. Somehow, Voldemort was summoning him. Or torturing him.

"But... That's impossible, sir," Draco said. "How could he be calling you, now that-"

The Slytherin couldn't bear to say it.

Right before the feast celebrating Snape's return to health, Dumbledore told the students that their Potions Master, cursed by Voldermort for being a traitor, had narrowly escaped death and lost his arm as a result. An awed silence greeted the Headmaster's solemn declaration that Snape had spent most of his life protecting everyone at Hogwarts, usually by placing himself in tremendous danger.

The Potions Master, for his part, had kept his eyes fixed on his empty plate. However, when the children began applauding him, he looked around the room, as if to convince himself that his ears weren't being deceived, and stiffly inclined his head in acknowledgment.

Many Slytherins were elated to hear that they now had an ally, someone who could defend them against their own parents' evil expectations. When he entered the Slytherin Common Room later that evening, he was immediately surrounded by those who'd always yearned not to be doomed to receive the Dark Mark. He'd told them he would do everything in his power to prevent it.

And now, he was lying on the floor, writhing in pain; he was the one in need of help.

"The Headmaster will be here any minute, professor," Draco said. He turned to Hermione. "Granger, get a cloth or something."

"Accio towel," she said, and it flew from the sink to her awaiting hand. "Try to breathe slowly, sir," she said, patting the Potions Master's sweat bathed features. As she spoke, Snape's body went limp.

"What's taking them so long?" Draco said.

At that moment, McGonagall burst into the dungeons, wand at the ready.

"Death Eaters have infiltrated Hogwarts! Come quickly, children-"

Then she saw Snape and hastened towards the unconscious man. "What on earth happened here?"

"Harry's scar started hurting him, and then Professor Snape, his arm... Something was hurting him too," Hermione said.

McGonagall pointed her wand at Snape. "Enervate."

He drew in a sharp breath, and his eyelids fluttered.

"Minerva..."

"Severus, can you stand? Death Eaters have broken through the wards, we have to get these children to safety."

"My quarters, they'll be out of harm's way," he said, struggling to his feet.

He swayed and she gripped his arm to steady him.

"I'm all right," he said. He took out his wand and aimed it at the wall behind his desk. "Sanctorum Revelatus."

Immediately, a large wooden door was revealed.

He waved his wand again. "Fluffy bunnies."

For a few seconds, they all forgot about the threat of Death Eaters and gaped at the Potions Master.

He raised his eyebrow. "Would you ever have been able to guess this was my password?"

Silence.

"I thought so. Now, hurry." He retrieved a handkerchief from one of his pockets and wiped his forehead, which was once more beaded with sweat. "Mister Weasley, take Potter with you, and make sure he stays there after he wakes. All of you, come on, quickly." When all the students were massed in his quarters, he glared at them and said, "Don't you dare touch anything, am I understood?"

"But sir," Draco said, "aren't you coming in with us?"

"I am needed elsewhere. Don't worry, Mister Malfoy. As soon as the school is secured, I shall be back to fetch every one of you."

"Professor, you're in no condition to-"

"Miss Granger," Snape said, interrupting her, "I am counting on you to make certain your friends behave." He then stepped back and before the children could protest any further, he shut the massive door and warded it.

"Where is Albus?" Snape asked McGonagall.

"Last I saw him, he was in the Great Hall with Remus, fighting off a group of them."

"Any idea how they penetrated Hogwarts?"

"None. I was in the middle of a class when I heard shouts and went to investigate. I saw three Death Eaters come round the corner and raced back to the classroom. I herded the children down the secret passage... Severus, are you all right?"

"He's here, Minerva," he said, holding onto his desk. "I can feel it. My arm... Somehow, my arm is throbbing."

McGonagall blanched.

"We haven't an instant to lose. Let's go," he said.

"Perhaps the children were right. You should stay with them. You look like you're going to pass out."

"He still looks much better than I would have imagined," a malevolent voice said from the doorway.

With a swiftness that belied his weakened state, Snape lept in front of McGonagall, shielding her from Voldemort and the two Death Eaters that flanked him.

"How nice to see you... almost in one piece," Voldemort said.

"Go to hell," Snape said, brandishing his wand like a sword.

The Dark Lord clucked his reptilian tongue. "Honestly, I am surprised. I hadn't anticipated you'd survive the curse. In any case, you were the key."

"What are you talking about?" Snape said. The hand that was clutching his wand had begun to shake.

"Not long after you 'returned' to the fold, Severus, I became aware that Dumbledore was using his spells to block my call whenever you were too injured or exhausted to answer. Unbeknown to you, my dear boy, your Dark Mark acted as a magical magnet. Dumbledore's wizardry left an imprint I knew I'd eventually be able to use to my own advantage. It was merely a question of extracting it from the mark. Which is precisely what I achieved by cursing you as I did. Like purifying gold with fire, you might say. It was then possible for me to forge Dumbledore's signature... Hence, my breaking his so-called unbreachable wards."

Snape's vision was blurring. "Why were you trying to summon me?"

"Summon you? I fear all you've endured has made you a bit daft, my boy." The Dark Lord paused, and a grimace that was meant to pass for a smile curved his lips. "You can still feel me then, can you. I must admit I'm intrigued. Almost a pity you have to die. But I told you: I have no tolerance for traitors." He narrowed his eyes.

Snape let out a strangled moan; his wand slid from his grasp and his knees buckled.

"Yes. You can feel me," Voldemort said with a triumphant voice. "This will make everything much easier."

"Leave him be," McGonagall said, her wand trained on the evil wizard.

"Don't tempt me, woman," the Dark Lord said, looking at her as though she were a bothersome insect. "Unless you wish your demise to be a particularly unpleasant one."

Her wand crackled. "I said, leave him alone."

Voldemort waved his hand at her in a flash and sent her crashing into the wall.

Snape gathered every drop of strength he had left and hurled himself at the wizard.

"You filthy bastard!" he yelled, wrapping his hands around Voldemort's throat.

The dark wizard was so flabbergasted that he didn't react, but his minions tore Snape away from their master and proceeded to kick and punch him.

"Stop, he's mine," Voldemort said.

The Death Eaters immediately moved away from the bleeding Potions Master.

Voldemort pointed his wand at him. "Crucio."

Snape's back arched and he screamed. The torment went on, interminable, until at last it ceased and he lay twitching on the stone floor.

"What shall it be, Severus? Shall I be merciful?" Voldemort moved closer to him. "I loved you so, my boy. Perhaps I was too indulgent when it came to you... A shame, really. Avada Kedavra, then? An end to pain. Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

The Potions Master said nothing.

"No last words for me," Voldemort snorted. "Very well. Avada-"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Snape watched as red eyes turned green, and the Dark Lord fell into an awkward heap at the Headmaster's feet. On either side of Dumbledore stood Remus and Mad Eye Moody, whose magical eye was trained on the dead wizard.

"Constant vigilance, Voldemort," Moody said.

"Expelliarmus!" McGonagall said, disarming one of the shocked Death Eaters. Her hair was in disarray and she had a bruise on the side of her face, but her expression was fierce.

The other Death Eater would have struck back at the Transfiguration Professor, but fortunately, Lupin was faster. "Petrificus Totalis."

The stunned Death Easter fell to the floor with a thud.

"Albus," Snape said, and blacked out.

[_]

When Snape awoke, the Hospital Wing was thronging with activity. He would later be told that Minister Fudge had graced them with his presence, shaking hands and promising a slew of Orders of Merlin. A number of teachers had been injured during the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts, but they were recovering well and chatting with groups of well-wishers.

"Madam Pomfrey! Professor Snape is awake!"

The Potions Master blinked, and finally noticed that his own bed was surrounded by children. Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Pansy Parkinson, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were staring at him, worry lining their faces.

"Oh, thank goodness," Pomfrey said. She rushed towards him, shooing those who stood in her way.

"How are you feeling, sir? See, we've brought you flowers and chocolate," Draco said.

Snape's bedside table was indeed overflowing with gifts and fragrant bouquets.

"Quit crowding the poor man, for pity's sake. He's barely conscious. Come on, give him some space," Pomfrey said.

"Don't scold them, Poppy," Snape said, and winced.

"Keep still, Severus. Those two thugs gave you quite a bruising."