He followed the elderly wizard through the corridors of the castle until eventually they arrived at Dumbledore's office. Opening the door, Dumbledore beckoned Snape to enter and take a seat. He did as he was instructed, perching himself on a large chair opposite the Headmaster's desk. Looking around the room, the past Headmasters of Howarts moved from portrait to portrait, whispering and casting glances in Snape's direction. As Dumbledore made his way to his desk, he paused momentarily to give Fawkes an affectionate stroke on the beak. The bird cooed contentedly as it raised its beak to the finger, giving it a gentle nip, causing Dumbledore to chuckle quietly to himself.
"Forgive me for calling you away from your breakfast Severus, however I am sure you appreciate the importance of these meetings taking place as early as possible." Dumbledore smiled as he picked up a bowl of assorted candy and offered it to Snape. Snape merely shook his head in polite declination, and watched as Dumbledore shrugged and helped himself to a Lemon Sherbet, sucking gently on it as he sat.
"Of course, Headmaster," Snape replied cordially. Indeed, he could not fathom why the meetings would not be of importance, he was merely irritated that he had been called away while enjoying a rare tête-à –tête with Lupin. However, he understood and appreciated that these meetings were of greater value than the matters of his personal life. It was just one of the many sacrifices that he had to make to fulfil his duty.
Severus Snape had been working as a spy for Dumbledore within the Death Eaters for quite some time. Shortly after he had first joined their ranks, he had become disillusioned. He had inadvertently discovered that Voldemort was in fact a Half-Blood and given his Master's intense hatred and disgust for anything that was not Pureblood, Snape had considered this a betrayal. It was a feeling that lingered within him even to this day – despite the fact that this own tolerance, although not complete, had greatly increased.
The discovery in itself, however, was not what had caused his defection, but it had led him to take a closer look at the circle to which he belonged. Within the group, he had hoped to find companionship, and a sense of belonging that he had never felt anywhere else. Dark magic had always appealed to him, and he was extremely proficient at it; knowing more curses and hexes than the Upperclassmen when he first arrived at Hogwarts. Being part of the Death Eaters had allowed him to indulge in these spells, and be among others who cared to do the same. However, the further he probed into the inner workings of group the more disgusted he became.
Voldemort controlled his followers using a regime of fear and loathing. He showed them no respect, and expected them to do his bidding while treating them as though they were mere servants – nothing more, nothing less. He considered no one his equal, looking down on any witch or wizard, believing himself better and more powerful than everyone else. Perhaps there was some truth in this factor. Voldemort was certainly a force to be reckoned with, and he could have used his capabilities for so many things, however his thirst for power was paramount, and soon anyone who did not follow him found their lives in danger.
Those who were brave enough to stand against him, once captured, were tortured and then executed. He rarely carried this action out on his own, usually delegating this task to his Death Eaters. When he received word that an Order had been established to eliminate him, he had simply laughed. His arrogance was astounding, truly believing that there was no one who could defeat him.
One by one, he had ordered his Death Eaters to eliminate the members of the so-called "Order of the Phoenix," granting them permission to use whatever means necessary so long as the job was complete. Eventually he had arrived at Snape. His task was to eliminate the Potters.
At first Snape was delighted at the prospect. He loathed James Potter and he had thought of being the one to snuff out his miserable life on more than one occasion, often fantasizing about it in great detail, carefully planning and acting it out in his head. However, now that the opportunity had fallen in his lap, Snape suddenly felt a chill go through him. He could not do it. No matter how desperately he wanted to, he could not be the one responsible for the death of James Potter.
As much as he despised him, James had saved Snape's life, which had left Snape forever in his debt. It was a bond that was inescapable, no matter how hard he tried to reason it away. He hated him, he owed him nothing; it was fault of James' friend that he was put in that position in the first place... The list was endless. However, the simple truth always remained the same. It was simply not a task that he could perform, and he dreaded the moment when he would have to tell Voldemort so.
No one dared refuse a task given to them by Voldemort. To do so was suicide, for he would torture you hours before finally extinguishing what little remained of your life. You would be made an example of; a warning to the others what would happen should they dare to question or deny him anything - and to think that Snape was going to do so, for James Potter. It was beyond comprehension, and had Snape not been so mind numbingly terrified he may well have laughed at the idea, passing it off as being ludicrous.
However, fate was to intervene and he was to be spared - Voldemort decided to perform the task himself. The reasons for this sudden change of plan, Snape had never been privy too, all he knew was that a wave of relief washed over him, allowing him to make the decision then to leave. He would seek out Dumbledore and inform him of all he knew. Voldemort needed to be stopped. Snape had no idea what he had been getting himself into when he made the foolish decision to join him, and now all he could think of was getting out of it – alive. What's more, if he informed Dumbledore of Voldemort's plans to kill the Potters, he stood a chance of being the means of their survival, and subsequently his debt to James would be paid off.
To Snape's astonishment, Dumbledore did not seem surprised by his decision to defect. He had merely thanked him for his assistance, and told him that it was imperative that he returned to Voldemort at once, as though they had never spoken. He was to continue with his duties as a Death Eater, and report to Dumbledore periodically at times that were safe to inform him for the current situation.
At this time, Snape did not know that Dumbledore was aware of a prophesy that had foretold of Voldemort's defeat by a baby born at the end of July. Had he, he would have been able to see the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Why Voldemort suddenly decided to take the task on himself, rather than allow Snape to do it. For Voldemort to take care of something like this personally it had to have important, and Snape knew that his Master would relish in the thought of destroying the person who was thought to be the only one who could destroy him.
Things, however, did not to according to plan. Word of Voldemort's unexpected downfall sent shockwaves through the ranks of his Death Eaters. There was chaos and confusion everywhere as Aurors were closing in on them, arresting people Snape had only hours before been conversing with.
For days that seemed like weeks, Snape had hid. Taking refuge in whatever shadowy place he could find where he would blend in and not appear conspicuous. It had proven difficult. Everyone around him was jovial now that The Dark Lord had been defeated. For the first time in a great many years, people were no longer afraid, free from the dark cloud that had constantly loomed over them. That cloud however, had not lifted for Snape.
Soon, Snape himself was captured, although to his surprise was never brought to trial. Dumbledore had come to him then and told him he requested his return to Hogwarts. He would be given the position of Potions Master, feeling that perhaps Snape had dabbled in the Dark Arts enough. Therefore, it was that in the closing of 1980, Snape walked through the giant wooden doors of the school he had left only a few short years before, this time as a Professor.
The remaining Death Eaters were scattered. Many denounced their associations with Voldemort while others just kept their allegiance well hidden. Snape had been one of the latter. He had never openly mentioned his conversion to the Order, and so it was found that he was able to communicate with the existing Death Eaters with relative ease. He had managed to convince them that his role in Hogwarts was merely a cover, and an excellent opportunity to spy on those who would seek to prevent Voldemort from returning.
It had been a plan that worked well. On Voldemort's return, Snape had found that it was easy to reclaim his place within his service with little questioning. All the while, he had carefully noted the words and actions of his fellow Death Eaters, and on the mornings following each meeting, he and Dumbledore would meet and discuss the events.
"How did the meeting last night go, Severus?" Dumbledore enquired, looking at Snape over the rim of his spectacles as he had a habit of doing.
"The mood is very subdued," Snape recalled. "Voldemort has lost many of his most faithful servants and he appears to be feeling this loss greatly. There are a few new faces, but he is being careful. I feel his attempts to penetrate my mind more acutely now than before. I can resist him, but I believe it is a sign of his growing uncertainty. He doesn't believe he can trust us, and I suspect he has plans for a means of testing his servants, although at this time I do not know what they may be."
Dumbledore stroked the long white beard that fell from his chin pensively. "He suspects you?" he asked.
Shaking his head, Snape replied. "No, I do not believe so. I have heard whispering among the others. They all seem to share in my belief. This would seem to suggest that he has been scrutinising us all equally. At this stage I think he is just being careful."
Standing, Dumbledore smiled warmly as he extended his hand to Snape, and on Snape's acceptance of it, he placed his other hand over Snape's and shook it warmly. "Thank you Severus. Your service to the Order is, as always, appreciated." Releasing his hand, Dumbledore chuckled, "Now go and finish your breakfast," he said, ushering Snape towards the door. "And be sure to give my regards to Professor Lupin, should he still be there."
Looking at his superior with curiosity, which only seemed to amuse Dumbledore more, Snape bowed his head slightly in parting. "Should I encounter him I shall be sure to pass them on," and with a final bow he turned on his heel and left the room.
