Still he lay awake, in the night, trying to get his head cleared. After all, it was not HIS fault Sirius had died... not one single bit. That Lestrange woman had been the one-the cousin of her target-unfortunate nonetheless, but Severus's intentions during that time had been nothing but with good heart-
'Good heart, eh, Sevvie?' asked a voice in his head. 'But wait... I thought you had no heart. Could there be a change of conscience for the infamous Professor Snape?'
'You could have saved him, you know...' came another voice from the inside. 'It was you and you alone whom Potter and all his allies' fate depended on... all you had to do was tutor him once a week, and you couldn't even do that... you really are a worthless pile of sludge...'
"No..." groaned Severus. "Please, not now... let me sleep... for once..." In his true mind, the one voice, the voice that really mattered- had always told him he was indeed a heartless soul who cared for no one but himself, and barely for himself at that. And that one true voice was the deciding factor... he had never, before tonight, given so much as a thought to whether or not he was truly capable of having a soft side. So why, why had tonight brought these questions to mind for the first time?
In the outside world, snow softly drifted downwards from the heavenly skies, slowly knitting itself a blanket of soft white just on the other side of Severus's door. But all that could be heard around Number Eighteen were the prolonged, clamorous snores emerging from his room. Eventually, he fell silent and into a deep sleep...
He was dreaming, dreaming of failing each and every last Potions student; and as he watched them fall to the floor with depression at this news, he began laughing hysterically...
"Laugh if you will, Snapey, but now is your time..." came a ghastly voice all of a sudden. Floating around the realms of nowhere, this voice continued... "Come, Severus... come..." This time it was a new voice, soft yet harsh, and as it surrounded him, the urgency in it could be heard and felt. "Come..."
"Stuff it," muttered Severus, into the air of the real world.
"Come..."
"No more arguing... go away... go away..."
"Now is your time..."
"WILL YOU GET THE BLOODY HELL AWAY??!!!" at last, Severus had fully awoken. But was he fully awake?
"Considering what you're about to see tonight, mate, I would choose a better phrase."
Now he knew he was still sleeping...and having a nightmare! He quickly wiped a greasy hand over his eyes and began rubbing them vigorously. He blinked once. Twice. Three times now. And that was it. For now he could clearly see, standing at his bedside, none other than the torment of his long-troubled conscience-
"S-s-s--SIRIUS?!"
The man nodded solemnly, his figure pale and dreary. Smooth black hair fell over his deep blue still-sparkling eyes, giving semi-life to his nonexistent form.
"Is th-th-there a r-re-rea-reason you're here?" came Snape in a trembling voice.
"Severus, will you quit studdering long enough to use your head? You think I'd choose to come and visit you, just to drop in for some whiskey and gin? No. Obviously there's a reason I'm here, chap, and that reason would be – redemption."
"Aha! So the Devil himself spat you back out of Hell, thinking you could be redeemed? See, Sirius, no one, not a single soul, wants your company..."
"Severus, this may not have been made clear enough to you, but as a general rule of thumb when dealing with the paranormal, don't agitate your betters. Damn…you're the one alive and kicking, and I'm still the one who's got it!" At that he chuckled, before continuing. "And anyway, your attacks are again fruitless; as this is a mission for your redemption; not mine. Nasty boy, you always were, Sev...and for some reason, I was chosen to help you see the thing they call 'the light'. Speak now or forever hold your peace…"