Chapter 4: The Forest
He bent to harvest a silvery stand of mushrooms, unicornis lunarius, so called because they grew only in unicorn leavings, nourished by moonlight. He wasn't the potions teacher anymore, but old habits died hard. He could not walk past a find like that.
A bag of galleons landed on the ground in front of him. He looked up to see Albus standing there, smiling at him. He felt a moment of blind rage at the old man. "You couldn't simply place it in Gringott's? You feel you have to pay me off like this?"
"Severus, you can't think they'll let you anywhere near Gringott's after? You'll need this, and you'll need a plan. Every man the ministry has, will be looking for you."
"You take too much for granted. I might not want to…and it might not come to that. I am working to develop an antidote." Even as he said it he knew he was being ridiculous. He'd had more than a decade to find an antidote. If it hadn't happened by now, it wasn't likely to happen in the next few months.
"I'm counting on you, Severus," Dumbledore said softly. "After I drink the Tenfold Potion," Severus started to object, but Albus held up his hand. "After I drink it, you must act quickly. You cannot let Draco become a killer. And you must not let me turn."
"Headmaster..."
"How are investigations in your house proceeding, by the way? Is Draco getting close? Can you delay him until I can get the horcrux?"
Snape stood, cleaning off his boleen with his cloak, the silvery mushrooms in the basket glowing like a Lumos spell. "I don't want to do it anymore." He imagined folding his arms and letting himself die, when the time came. Breaking the Unbreakable Vow and leaving Draco, and Potter, to fend for themselves…allowing Albus to turn into Merlin knew what. Unacceptable. He folded his arms, nostrils flaring.
He imagined heading out to the lake and drinking the potion himself….although no one could do it alone. He'd made sure of that himself. He knew of no one he could trust, to accompany him, except the man next to him, whose days were already numbered anyway. No, as usual, Albus had thought of everything, even of how Severus was to live on the run, caring for Draco, afterwards.
"I need you, Severus," Dumbledore said mildly.
"You don't. You need a killer." Snape hissed.
"Exactly." The blue eyes twinkled. "One who will
"Damn you and your plans," he exploded. "I don't WANT to. I refuse to. Find another way." He turned on his heel to walk away.
Equally angry, Dumbledore grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "You agreed to it, and you shall do as you've promised," he said sternly. "It's much too late to change your mind." Snape opened his mouth to say that Dumbledore would never demand this of any of the others, that his wonderful trust amounted to nothing more in the end, than putting him at Voldemort's mercy.
A twig snapped, and both wizards looked in its direction. Hagrid waved at them. Albus waved back cheerfully, and both wizards watched Hagrid's large form retreat from the forest, towards his hut.
More softly Albus said, patting his shoulder, "Death comes to us all, my boy. There's no escaping it. I am fortunate. I get to have a purpose to my death, and to select the manner of it. Most people get neither. I'm counting on you."
The air hung heavy with unsaid words. Albus' arms were open, as if he would hug Snape. Snape's face was expressionless. He said nothing, but hoisted his basket, and the galleons, and walked stoically away into the blackness.