Disclaimer: As usual

Note: Here it is at last, the final chapter! I will soon be writing more Snape angst (perhaps more centered on his childhood and Hogwarts years...), So keep checking if you wish to read it. Anyways, infinite thanks for all the wonderful reviews, they were truly like sugar to an acid lemonade. Thank you, and for the last time (in this story) enjoy your reading!

Dumbledore watched silently as Severus slept, the sun beginning to cast it's first rays of golden light inside the Hospital Wing. He noticed with certain contentment that the young man's chest rose steadily with every breath he took, and his heart still beat blood through his veins with force, signalling clearly that life coursed through him yet. And he would live. He wanted to live (or at least, he no longer desired to die) and that was all that mattered. The old man reached out suddenly in a moment of sweet tenderness to caress his child's pale cheek, feeling love like a warm glow inside him. But as his hand descended to rest on the sleeping man, Severus' breath caught in his chest and he flinched instinctively as though expecting a blow. Albus did not remove his hand and was relieved to see that in a few second Snape seemed to relax once more but pity had already risen in him, like a fountain of tarnished silver. Love flared to a roaring fire and even hatred wriggled his way into his heart like a pair of poisonous snakes with sharp fangs, hatred for the man who had thus ruined a child.

Snape awoke with difficulty, though he felt somewhat more rested. Even if his body hurt as though daggers had pricked him all through the night and his bones had been hollowed out leaving him unable to hardly move. He was surprised, however, to feel his chest less heavy than was usual and his heart less aching. As he awoke every morning he felt a sinking sensation in his heart, a bitter dissapointment that he had not died in his sleep; it had been thus for years. But as he opened his eyes that day to reveal Dumbledore's bright silver beard shining in the dawn's light the weight was lessened.

'Good morning my child. How're you feeling?' The Headmaster asked kindly.

'Fine.'

Snape lied, the words escaping his mouth before he could think of a reply. He was so used to pretending he was well, shutting people out and hiding away. So unaccostumed to anyone caring about him that the few times anyone had indeed expressed any concern he had pushed them away. But it was as it should be, for he was not worth anyone's trouble, nor did he desire their pity- and that was all he would achieve if he spoke truthfully.

Dumbledore smiled at him kindly, surpressing a sigh. He knew he was a fool to be so dissapointed, and that Severus' wounds ran too deep to be healed in a day. Years had passed and edged them deeper, long gashes that had broken his soul. Time perhaps and love would unite the pieces once more, but sometimes the live's of men were too short to allow a true healing and but a superficial cure was to be expected. Alas. He patted the bony arm lightly and tried to ignore the stab of pain as Severus winced and pulled his arm away. He noticed with concern however as what little color was left in his pale countenance dissapeared as the young man placed his arm back on the bed and stared mutely at the linen sheets covering him. It seemed he was feeling shame. Great dollops of blood issued on Albus' tender heart, drops of grief and sadness. Severus was feeling shame for a behaviour he had no fault in, for a fear installed in him since his childhood, a paranoic fear and alertness he had been unable to banish as life continued to force this "quality" as necessary to survive. Taking a deep breath to stiffle the tears that threatened to spill he forced himself to continue as calmly as possible.

'So, how do you feel?'

He questioned anew, as though no response had been made. Dumbledore pitied him in all probability, but he also loved him. He had said so last night and he was too noble a wizard to lie. He loved him and cared for him truly. He had to live if only for him, to aid him in saving the world the old man loved so much. He himself could not find caring for the world who had treated him as it had, who had caused him such anguish and isolated him. But in his heart he knew those were but a few individuals, and innocent people who had not fault in his misfortunes or that of any others lived still, people free of guilt who deserved to live in happiness and peace. And if he could contribute to help them by spying- then he must. Severus gasped as acute pain suddenly burst through him, his limbs possessed by an uncontrollable trembling. He bit his lip to stop the cry of pain that wished to escape him, he felt his hands curl attempting pathetically to reduce the pain.

'Actually I a-am not feeling too well.'

He confessed with a tired sneer, before going back to biting his lips to stifle cries of agony his body longed to release. Dumbledore frowned with concern and fought to breath as he wove his hand through Snape's raven hair. They could not lose him now, not now that he had finally dispelled the desire for death and replaced it by a weak longing to live. A trickle of blood ran down Snape's chin as he broke through his lip and his fingers were turned into hideous claws that pierced his own skin, soon to draw blood. Dumbledore hesitated, he was wary of leaving Snape in this position alone but Poppy was in the Great Hall and he would have to go get her himself if she was to come. He rushed from the room as quickly as he could, whispering a 'I'll be back in a minute.' to the patient in distress as he left.

Snape thought he heard one of his fingers crack, but the roaring sound of blood pounding in his head blocked most other sounds out. His head hurt as if it were to burst and his body was being crushed under blocks of heavy stone, wooden spears set alight with burning fire piercing his sides, a rope of ice choking him and poison dissolving his veins.

Madam Pomfrey and the Headmaster were back in a few minutes, followed a short distance behind by Mcgonagall who was forced to rely on her cane. They saw Severus lying on the bed, eyes closed tight in pain, lips parted slightly glistening with blood. The shaking had reduced somewhat as had the pain, but as the party of three advanced they could hear his laboured breathing. Poppy pressed two fingers to his wrist and strained to feel the pulse, at last she noticed the weak fluttering of his pulsating heart. She turned to stare at Dumbledore who was himself shaking slightly with grief and gazing at Severus in horror, his usual calm demenour lost.

'A-albus.'

Snape stuttered weakly a coughing spell overpowering him, blood spilling from his lips. Dumbledore rushed foward to grasp his hand and listen carefully to his words. This could not be happening he thought with confusion.

'I do b-believe I am dying.'

The young man stammered calmly, managing even to smirk at the irony of the situation. 'Incredible how when I wished to d-die I could not and when y-you convinve me to live I am n-not allowed to.'

Dumbledore gazed at Severus, grief etched in every wrinkle of his face and all twinkle gone from his eyes, then cast a desperate glance at Poppy who instantly busied herself in gathering some potions and setting them on a bedside table. She was doubtful of his survival..she had warned Dumbledore that a few cruciatus would kill him and the crisis had appeared in his most vulnerable state. His defences were so low his body would soon give up the struggle and allow himself to be swept away by the wings of Death. But she was not about to let him go without fighting, she was a healer and everything was possible until death itself took hold; but while there was still a heart beating there was hope. She cupped a bottle of potion to his lips and gently coaxed him to drink it, an organ-healing potion followed a heart-strengthening potion and a vitality beberage. Finding the crook of his arm she inserted a needle and set up the feeding system, accompanied by some more healing potion that also started injecting it's way into his veins.

'Severus..'

The old man murmured when all was set up, a last attempt at mantaining him alive. The Potions Master's eyelids fluttered as he struggled to regain conciousness, his left hand kept trembling even though the pain had receded in the rest of his body, leaving but a dull ache.

'I told you I would pull you up if Darkness threatened to engulf you once more, my child.'

Dumbledore whispered with a slight smile of relief, taking a cloth he wiped the blood from his chin and overcome by emotion he pressed his head to Snape's chest, listening with joy at theonce moe steady beating of the heart and the air filling the lungs without difficulty.

'Albus you're hurting him!'

Poppy cried out in alarm and pulled the Headmaster back, who had tears in his eyes and trickling down his cheek. Severus had lost the battle to sleep and was once again in a faint. But his countenance was peaceful and Madam Pomfrey reassured everyone by checking him over and stating the danger had passed and he should be fine in a few weeks.

Snape led the shaking spoon to his mouth and took a sip of the warm soup, this time accompanied by some chunks of meat and vegetables. Dumbledore watched approvingly, though he was slightly worried at the incessant trembling of the young man's left hand, it seemed the nerves had been affected by the continuos onslaught of Cruciatus. He had not complained, but Albus had caught him staring at his unsteady hand, his eyes full of disgust and sadness. Yet a week had passed and he appeared to have gained some weight and no more crisis had happened as his defences built up.

'Severus...I've been thinking perhaps it would be unadvisable for you to remain in Voldemort's service. You would be safe at Hogwarts.'

Choking on his soup Snape shook his head forcefully, forcing back the nausea that had suddenly assaulted him. The trembling in his hand increased and the spoon fell from his grasp. He was so useless. He felt tears spring to his eyes, how could he help Dumbledore except by remaining as a spy? The security of the school was unreputable and yet adding one more person Voldemort wished to kill to the castle was not exactly advisable.

'Of what use would I be then?' he asked in a deadly whisper,'No, Dumbledore and that is clear. I am a spy and will remain so until death takes me or the Dark Lord'

Dumbledore nodded in defeat, knowing it would be useless to continue further argument and handed the spoon back to Snape who waved it off as his hunger dissipated.

'I don't want you to get hurt again my child.'

The young man lifted his head and stared at the dazzling zaphires, bright pieces of blue sky, spheres of ocean, full of love. Dumbledore locked his gaze with Snape and saw his black eyes were glistening with tears, like the black clouds foreboding a storm. And yet a star shone from behind the darkness, did it not?

'I shall fight Albus. And when I die you shall drink to my memory if it pleases you, though do not expect many to join you.'

'When you die I shall already be dead for I much older than you Severus.'

Snape looked to a side, 'Many die young.'

'But you need not be one of them. Do not say when but if you die during this war, for nothing is for sure and hope shines brightly wherever we may be.'

'Do you never waver in your determination? Never doubt your own actions and what you fight for? If it is worth it?'

'Of course I do Severus. Doubt is the mind's most deadly enemy...is it not? So many actions are wronged by doubt, opportunities lost and friends rejected by doubt. Incertitude. And when you lose all to that doubt you despair. Despair is like a gaping abyss of darkness and should you fall the bottom will only be madness or death. But that is what our heart is for, to confront doubt and force it away, to kindle the torch of hope if a gust of despair should extinguish it's flame.'

'But when the heart has been broken and nothing remains but sharp shards of glass what protects us from Despair?'

'Few are the ones who have been lost forever. For many have hearts though they remain faithful only to the Darkness. But though your heart be injured Severus it may heal. Love heals the most profound wounds.'

'As it may also infflict them.'

'And heal them anew. You have my love Severus and Minerva, Lupin and Molly care for you too,whatever you may think and others would if you allowed them behind those walls you have built around yourself.'

'Walls will protect from enemies.'

'But it will also impede allies from entering if they do not know the way to the door.'

'You always have a response to everything it seems.'

Dumbledore smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, Snape involuntarily stiffened then relaxed.

'I'm sorry.'

He mumbled as he saw Albus' grimace of pain at his reaction.

'It is not your fault my child. But be sure I would never strike you. And yet it is not surprising you continue flinching to any touch for though you no longer need to contend with your father you still have Voldemort and his followers to take into account.'

Albus leaned foward to envelop the man in a hug, his heart beating so heart with love it felt as though it was going to burst from his chest with a shower of phoenix tears. Severus saw the white beard descending upon him like a mantel of bright stars on the midnight blue robes, and taking a deep breath allowed himself to be embraced. The beating of Dumbledore's heart as he rested on his chest rising in him that peculiar sensation he was still so alien to, stiffled for so long it seemed strange now that he exposed it without restraint. He closed his eyes breathing in the old man's lemony scent and warm cozy robes, arms wrapped about him in a loving hug. Dumbledore smiled to himself as his child leaned into his embrace without flinching or even stiffening, Snape's arms lay on his lap but the Headmaster knew he could expect nothing more. He lifted a hand to caress the rather greasy hair of the young man and was brought another burst of hapiness as Severus seemed to press more tightly to him.

'You are truly the most extraordinary man I have met Albus. The beating of your heart feels to me like the music of my soul, your twinkling eyes the candles that light my path of darkness and your words my only hope.'

'Oh my child. My son in heart and soul. You swell my heart with such powerful love that all other emotions are drowned out, you are to me like the stars that illumine the dark sky, without which the night would be but a blind void.'

Severus felt his eyes closing even as they talked, Sleep lifting him on her wings and taking him to the realm of dreams.

'I am falling as-sleep...'

'Then sleep my child-'

'I am fearful that this is but a- a dream and I am in truth awakening, I am scared of opening my eyes and finding it has been nothing but an illusion.'

'Fear not. For it is real, I will be here when you awaken. But is not life but a dream from which we awaken when we die?' he added thoughtfully.

'Or perhaps death is falling asleep.'

Dumbledore smiled and smoothed a hand down Snape's side, fingers bumping over his still protruding ribs.

'Sleep my child and when you open your eyes once more I shall be here beside you.'

Snape nodded and suddenly reached out his hand to clutch Dumbledore's robes, the closest he could manage to returning the hug. Albus sighed with a bittersweet happiness,

'I love you my child...'

He whispered softly. Severus did not reply for he was already soaring on Sleep's wings but his clutch on the robes tightened. Dumbledore held him between his arms as he slept, both hearts fluttering with love and the torches of Hope alight, dispelling the darkness, if only in their souls.

What a lousy end... Ah well, it is over. Hope you enjoyed it. Review! -Thanks