Disclaimer: The characters in this fan fic are not mine. (That's why it's
called a "fan" fic.)
Shocked by what they had just seen, Hermione and Ron rushed through Hogwarts' twisting corridors to Dumbledore's quarters. However, just before she uttered the password, Hermione heard a harsh voice.
"Gummy Bears." It was Snape, also on his way to report. Hermione motioned to Ron and they quickly moved away from the entrance. The professor hurried up the winding staircase. After a second's hesitation, Hermione sneaked up the stairs after him, pulling Ron with her. At the landing, he turned to her, a question written on his face. Ever cautious, she motioned for him to keep quiet and turned to listen.
"Severus. Have a seat. Lemon drop?" Snape sat down, but ignored the question.
"Albus, Cornelius is dead," Snape replied without preamble. The twinkle faded from the old wizard's eyes.
"That is disturbing news indeed," the headmaster said gravely. "He was one of our best operatives, as you well know." Dumbledore paused for a moment. "You realize that this increases the chance that you will also be discovered."
"Albus, why do you insist upon revisiting topics that have already been discussed? You know my reasons for spying on Voldemort. Besides, the fact that Cornelius is dead only increases the need for my work." Snape spat out the last word. "There is no way for me to stop anyway. It is impossible to remove the Dark Mark.and you know what will happen if I refuse its pull for too long." He went silent, lost in a dark memory. The headmaster's soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
"His death wasn't your fault, Severus." Snape moved slightly in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice as cold and dead as ever.
"I thought you might want to know about Cornelius, Dumbledore," he said curtly, standing up. "If that is all you wished to discuss, I have classes to prepare for tomorrow." At the headmaster's nod, he swept out of the room so quickly that Hermione and Ron were barely able to move out of the way.
"You may come out now." With a slightly guilty start, they shrugged off the invisibility cloak.
"Sir, we can explain." Hermione began, but the wizard waved away her explanation.
"I know you meant no harm. So, you witnessed everything at the meeting?" At those words, a flood of description came pouring out of them. When they were finished, Albus looked solemn.
"Hmm, this complicates things a bit." He paused to think. After apparently deciding something, his eyes refocused. "Well, I'm sure Harry would like to know what happened." Hermione and Ron nodded at the dismissal and left for Gryffindor Tower.
Shocked by what they had just seen, Hermione and Ron rushed through Hogwarts' twisting corridors to Dumbledore's quarters. However, just before she uttered the password, Hermione heard a harsh voice.
"Gummy Bears." It was Snape, also on his way to report. Hermione motioned to Ron and they quickly moved away from the entrance. The professor hurried up the winding staircase. After a second's hesitation, Hermione sneaked up the stairs after him, pulling Ron with her. At the landing, he turned to her, a question written on his face. Ever cautious, she motioned for him to keep quiet and turned to listen.
"Severus. Have a seat. Lemon drop?" Snape sat down, but ignored the question.
"Albus, Cornelius is dead," Snape replied without preamble. The twinkle faded from the old wizard's eyes.
"That is disturbing news indeed," the headmaster said gravely. "He was one of our best operatives, as you well know." Dumbledore paused for a moment. "You realize that this increases the chance that you will also be discovered."
"Albus, why do you insist upon revisiting topics that have already been discussed? You know my reasons for spying on Voldemort. Besides, the fact that Cornelius is dead only increases the need for my work." Snape spat out the last word. "There is no way for me to stop anyway. It is impossible to remove the Dark Mark.and you know what will happen if I refuse its pull for too long." He went silent, lost in a dark memory. The headmaster's soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
"His death wasn't your fault, Severus." Snape moved slightly in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice as cold and dead as ever.
"I thought you might want to know about Cornelius, Dumbledore," he said curtly, standing up. "If that is all you wished to discuss, I have classes to prepare for tomorrow." At the headmaster's nod, he swept out of the room so quickly that Hermione and Ron were barely able to move out of the way.
"You may come out now." With a slightly guilty start, they shrugged off the invisibility cloak.
"Sir, we can explain." Hermione began, but the wizard waved away her explanation.
"I know you meant no harm. So, you witnessed everything at the meeting?" At those words, a flood of description came pouring out of them. When they were finished, Albus looked solemn.
"Hmm, this complicates things a bit." He paused to think. After apparently deciding something, his eyes refocused. "Well, I'm sure Harry would like to know what happened." Hermione and Ron nodded at the dismissal and left for Gryffindor Tower.