Oh... This chapter is so sad! As always, I hope you like it. I also really really hope you review...!

Chapter Four: In Which Death Comes Quietly and Leaves a Painful Scar

Severus would be killed the next morning at dawn. Celaene received an owl that night when she returned to the castle:

Dear Mrs. Snape,

The Ministry regrets to inform you that your presence is required at the execution of Severus Septimius Snape on the first of July at six thirty in the morning. The execution will take place at Azkaban Prison. We wish to extend our sympathy to you during this trying time. Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Cleodora Throckton

Department of Magical Law Enforcement

"I have to watch?" she gasped, rereading the letter. "They want me to watch him die? They m-must b-be crazy…" She was trembling now. Tonks stroked her hair gently.

"It won't be that bad," she reassured Celaene. "You'll be with him, and that's how he'll want it."

"He d-doesn't w-want it at all," she said, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes again.

"No, I know he doesn't," she whispered. "He wants to be with you, Celaene. I'll tell you what—I can get you in early and you can spend some time with him before… before it happens. Would you like that, Celaene?"

"Thanks, T-Tonks… I would…" Celaene brushed tears from her eyes and stood up.

"I'll come get you at four tomorrow and we'll go to Azkaban, and I'll wait for you and bring you back here. Alright?"

Celaene nodded feebly, knowing perfectly well that nothing was right at all.

She didn't sleep at all that night, though she did try. All she could see when she closed her eyes was Severus, Severus smiling, laughing, yelling… She could almost hear him, the way he would whisper in her ear, "Cella, love, I love you…"

Celaene was ready when Tonks came to pick her up in the morning. She was shaking worse than ever, sobbing… She was a mess. The whole journey there she spent twisting her ring around her finger.

Tonks let her into the building, opened the door to Severus's cell, and whispered—for Severus was asleep—that she'd wait outside.

Celaene walked over to the pathetic bed that had been provided for him and sat on the edge of it. "Severus…" she murmured. "Wake up, love."

He opened his black eyes with a start. "Surely it's not time yet," he said wildly. Then he recognized her and softened. "Cella," he whispered. "Why are you here? I don't want you to have to see…" he faltered and stopped.

"They say I have to," she said, crying again.

"Don't cry," he instructed her.

"Why shouldn't I? I'll never… Oh, Severus…" He pulled her into a tight hug and held her while she cried into his chest.

"You'll be alright," he assured her. "You'll be alright, Cella. I love you; I'll always love you. Always…"

She looked up into his pale face. It was dry, but she knew Severus never cried. He wiped her tears and kissed her several times.

"Tell me, Cella, will you take care of yourself? Find someone else?"

"No," she said miserably. "How can I find anyone like you?"

"Go to people who love you, Celaene, because I don't want you to be alone. Go stay with Remus and Tonks, or Arthur and Molly. Will you do that?"

"I will," promised Celaene. She felt like her heart was being ripped from her chest, cut up and torn apart and she could barely look into his firm black eyes that were full of anger and love. She put her head on his chest and held him and they waited.

Severus heard the guard coming before Celaene did. He gently pushed her away and stood up. She followed. "It's time," said the guard nastily.

Severus felt her clutch his hand tightly as they followed him out. Tonks joined them after a few minutes. She wrapped her arm around Cella and nodded gravely to Severus, who couldn't make himself respond. After several moments, he spoke to her, looking at the ground. "Will you take care of Celaene, Tonks? You, and Remus?"

"Of course," assured Tonks very quietly.

Severus nodded his thanks.

The room was cold and dark. There were two guards inside, and the Minister of Magic, and the executioner. He held a bottle of black liquid in one hand, which he gave to Severus.

"Sit," he was ordered.

He sat. Celaene knelt beside him, shaking so badly now that she could barely hang onto his hand.

"Drink," said the executioner.

Severus, feeling numb and clumsy, opened the bottle. It was a powerful poison; he'd be dead in seconds after the liquid touched his lips. He realized with a horrible shock that he had been this potion's brewer. It made him gag.

"Drink," he was told, more firmly.

He raised the bottle to his lips.

Celaene sobbed louder, hung onto him tightly, whispering under her breath, "No, no…"

He swallowed.

She screamed it, then: "No!"

His grip on her hand relaxed and his eyes fell out of focus. He grew cold, then warm again. He could barely hear anymore, but someone was saying words to him. He struggled to understand… "I love you," it sounded like. Cella…

"I love you, too," he tried to respond. "Cella, I love you."

"I… too," he croaked. "Cella… love…" He swallowed hard, blinked, and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed, then finally stopped.

"No," she said. She said it quietly, calmly. "No. Severus, wake up. It's time to get up, love, wake up."

An arm wrapped around her and pulled her away. "He can't wake up," said Tonks. She sounded empty. "He can't come back, Celaene."

"He has to come back!" She shrieked. "Please, Severus, come back to me! I need you, Severus!"

The guards were leading her away from him. She clutched his lifeless hand. "Severus," she pleaded. "Please, Severus, I need you to come back right now! Wake up!"

He didn't stir. He should have woken up by now… the only other option was that he was really… Tonks pulled on her hand gently. "Come on, Celaene, you know better. We're going to go back to Hogwarts and have a cup of hot tea and I'll be here for you, me and Remus will be here."

Feeling empty and weighed down at the same time, Celaene allowed herself to be directed out of the room and out of the prison. The doorway seemed to her like a mouth that had swallowed her husband and she couldn't bear the sight of it. "Severus…" she whispered.