The school lay deep in sleep and dreams, the noise and bustle of academia having finally surrendered to the shadowy midnight world which Snape had always loved. In a few hours all would be activity and excitement one last time as the students left for the summer holidays, but until then...
He wandered slowly through the silent halls, letting his mind drift on the silence, finding peace in the sense of eternity permeating the ancient castle. Hogwarts had existed for hundreds of years before he had been born, and it would still be here long after he was dead. It sheltered him but did not need him. He was free to leave whenever he chose.
Leave. He knew he had to. He wished he could give McGonagall the answers she wanted, but if she ever learned the truth, then it would be from someone else. Snape had carefully considered his options, and the best course of action still led inevitably to his death; and he was determined to take all his secrets with him. But if the condemned man could have his last wish, then a few hours in which to say goodbye would be his.
He pushed open the door of the Great Hall and slid quietly inside, letting it close behind him. The enchanted ceiling revealed a clear summer night, glorious with stars. Snape moved slowly down the centre of the room between the house tables, drinking in the view with a quiet sense of joy. At that moment he did not care what the future might hold; he cared only that the night was beautiful.
'The stars are lovely tonight, are they not?'
Snape turned sharply to find Dumbledore standing behind him. Taken so completely off-guard, he could think of nothing to say, and for moment he forgot he was a member of staff, and experienced a fleeting chill of dread at being caught out of bed by the headmaster.
Dumbledore gave him a gentle smile and sat down. 'It has been a long week, has it not?' he said. 'Minerva and I have been expecting Fudge and the Ministry of Magic to arrive and take you from us at any moment.'
Snape, still standing, said nothing.
'I hear you've spent most of the week in the library,' Dumbledore continued. 'I hope our modest collection was able to supply you with the information you require?'
There was a long pause. Staring at the floor, Snape replied, 'More or less. However, the book I wanted appears to have lost something in the translation.'
Dumbledore nodded. 'I decided to abridge it, in deference to the scope of the minds most likely to read it.' Snape looked up sharply to meet the headmaster's clear gaze. Dumbledore smiled again, and said, 'You are of course referring to your father's excellent work on the practice of Occlumency?'
Snape's face froze for a moment. Then he sighed faintly, as if in resignation, and sank onto one of the benches, his head in his hands. 'Potter needs that book in its entirety. We're running out of time, and the boy can't even protect himself, never mind save anyone else. Right now, he doesn't stand a chance.' He raised his head, his face veiled by his long greasy hair. Hiding, Dumbledore had noted long ago. Snape swallowed. 'I failed you. I did try, truly I did... I'm so sorry...'
'What happened was not your fault, Severus,' Dumbledore said softly. 'It is I who am sorry, and I apologise to you without reserve.'
Snape held his head in his hands again, then looked up, raking the hair out of his eyes in one rough sweep. The look he turned on Dumbledore held terrible desperation. 'You do believe I had nothing to do with what happened to Frank and Alice, don't you?'
'Yes I do,' Dumbledore replied. He held Snape's gaze for another long moment. 'You are going to run, aren't you?'
'I can't stay,' Snape replied in a flat voice. 'The Dark Lord is going to find out I've betrayed him. I cannot be here when that happens.' He looked away. 'There's nothing more I can do for the Order now. And I... have other responsibilities.'
'I understand,' Dumbledore said gently. 'Is there anything I can do to help you?'
Snape shook his head. 'There's only one person who can help me, if he will. I'm going to ask him now; and then I have to go.' He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up.
Dumbledore rose, and held out his hand. 'Then I thank you for all you have done for us, and I wish you the very best of luck.'
Snape took his hand in a brief handshake and walked swiftly to the door. Then he stopped and turned. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, then said, in a voice just above a whisper, 'Do you know who my father was?'
'Yes, Severus. But Voldemort does not. Malfoy was never able to tell him, and I believe that no one else ever knew.'
Snape nodded, and ran back towards the dungeons.
Sorry if this has come up as a new chapter. I was trying to tidy the whole thing up and it went slightly wonky. Bear with me - Chapter Five should be up very soon!