Three Years

Author: Leta McGotor

Disclaimer: I owen nothing but the idea and some persons like Thomas O'Connor, Richard and Alice Manks, Daniel McGonagall, the vampires and of course The Oxford University for International Magic belongs to me. The other belongs to JKR.

Jade1982: Hello, who told you that Severus rescued her? Don't forget they are not out of it yet. But it is great that you liked the scene and that you told me that with your review. Thank you for that.

lonelylioness: Great E-Mail address, very interesting. Thank you for your review, I love to read what others think about what I write.

Quill of Minerva: You will see in this chapter whether she is a vampire or not. I really hope it is not too confusing what I write and I would like to know your opinion about this last chapter. Thank you for your review.

Chapter 5 Watery Tears.

"Run!", bellowed Moody and jumped to his feet. In the next second he was around a corner and one of the vampires after him. While Albus stood and murmured some incantations he hadn't heard in his whole lofe, Severus sized Minerva by her arm and ran with her along one of the long corridors. He could see the huge door at the end of it. If they only could reach it…

Behind them they could hear Albus running as fast as he could. He had realized that no incantation he used was helpful against these creatures and he preferred to stay alive. So he did the only thing he could think of after another of his incantations bumped off the now two vampires hovering above him.

The three of them had nearly reached the door, when it flew shut with a loud crack. A high pitched laugh followed, a laugh, which wasn't human. In front of them stood a man, clothed only in black. His skin shone white in the light of the few candles.

"You wanted to go, now? That is not a kind thing to do, to go before the dinner has started.", he said and the two vampires behind Albus, Severus and Minerva started screaming and laughing.

Severus worked silently on a plan. There had to be something he could do. He felt Minerva shudder beside him. He looked her in the face and noticed that she had gone pale. Of course, she never had been one of those, who had much colour in their faces but now it seemed that she had not much more colour that the vampires around them. When they got out of here alive, he would take her to a sunny place somewhere, where were no vampires. To a sunny place…?

"…lucky for the rest of our clan isn't here. But seeing the time they won't need long to arrive…" The vampire spoke to them. Severus didn't undertsand a single word. What was he talking about? Lucky…not long to arrive? What was Albus saying? Indeed Albus Dumbledore had began to say something, but whatever it was, it didn't matter to Severus for a plan was developing itself in his head. Carefully he looked at Minerva's wrist. Would it work?

Suddenly Severus stepped forward, smiling. "Excuse me, Albus. It is nice that you understand each other so well but there is a train to catch." He could feel the confused looks of Albus and Minerva on his back and the cold sweat running down his neck. If his plan failed, they would be all damned. He saw the vampire raise his eyebrows and it was obvious, that he didn't understand more that Albus and Minerva.

"Now, you'll excuse me." Severus throw a little ball made of glass to the ground and it shaddered. Thick smoke came from it and all started to cough. The black clouds swirled around them and it was impossible to see anything. Severus, who knew what would happen, seized Minerva and Albus and pushed them out of the door to the long bridge. Still coughing they ran along it, until…

"Aaargh…" Severus and Albus turned around. There stood Minerva, the pure horror in her eyes, and behind her the male vampire they had met. He smiled fiendish at them.

"Have you lost something? You shouldn't let your things lay around everywhere." With these words he sank his teeth in Minervas neck and began to suck.

"No", Severus screamed and ran back, but Moody and Dumbledore pulled him backwards.

"You can't do anything for her now", Moody hissed in his ear.

Three years came and went and I, Severus Snape, sit now in this office, not Albus' anymore for he has died in the war half a year ago. He had made me his Deputy Headmaster after we had lost Minerva and therefore I am Headmaster now. In more than one month the students will return and I feel less prepared than ever.

For hours I have stood at this window and looked out. The sun has risen and is shining now as bright as if nothing bad had ever happened. While standing there I see a black figure making its way to the castle and become angry. How dare such people to come here after all? In the last half year after the defeating of the Dark Lord, several former Death Eaters had come to the castle in hope I would help them to continue their master's plans. All of them had gone to Azkaban, but now I don't know whether I have the nerves to just bring this one to Azkaban. I have never killed one of them but now I'm too angry to think twice and I rush down the corridors and out of the castle,

There is the dark figure striding to the front doors of the school, as if it would be his or her home. I feel that I have started running to this person and when I reach it, I stumble and pull my oponent to the ground with me. I don't know whether there was a time when I have been that angry.

I pull the mask of the person from the face and suddenly I feel as if somebody has slapt me. There is the grass lay Minerva McGonagall and blinked into the sunlight. As fast as I can I pull her to her feet and into the castle, down a dark corridor, before turning around.

"What are you doing here?", I hiss. "You are dead, that means you are not dead but not alive anymore… you know. Why are you here? To look for somebody for dinner, eh? I must disappoint you. In case you have forgotten, there are holidays and no student is here."

"I… I didn't… I… never, Severus, she studderes. I don't know what she wants here but it hurts. A hot pain shoots through my body when she looks me in the eyes with – what is it? – a pleading look. Without saying another word I seize her by the arms and pull her to my office, she doesn't protest. In fact she says nothing at all. Only when I reach the door I hear a quiet sob but I don't turn around. Instead I push the door open and drag her inside and into the next chair. Albus' portrait hang at the wall and he looked curious at us.

I sit behind my desk and look at her. Deep in my heart I feel sorry for her and suddenly sad. All in all this woman was – is – the love of my life. I never thought that I would say something like that. During my reverie Minerva's sobs increase until I can't ignore them anymore.

"Can't you stop crying, can you? After all, nobody forced you to come here. So accept the consequences and… STOP CRYING!" I feel that I loose my temper for I can't stand it to see her cry. Suddenly a new wave of anger hits me and I jump to my feet. The next moment I shake her again and again until a voice from the wall yells my name. Minerva drops to the floor while I turn around.

"Severus," Albus' voice rings through the room. "Can't you see her tears? They are watery tears, ot bloody tears." I feel that my face looses all colour. He is right. They are watery tears, but a vampire can't cry watery ones, only bloody ones. I kneel beside Minerva and cup her face in my hands. Watery tears.

"Minerva,… what… how?" I can't say more for lack of words.

"There… was a po-potion which helps you n-not to become a vampire. But it only w-works in the first f-five hours. A-after that it k-kills you. It lasts t-two or more years until it works pro-properly. I…" I don't have to hear more than that. I simply hug her. How could I have doubted for only one second that she had come for another reason.

"I love you", she whipers in my ear.

"I love you, too.

Hours later I wake up and feel that somebody helds me close. I hear the slow breathing and look up. I see Minerva's face, her relaxed features and I smile for now I know that she will always be with me.

Ok, although this is the last chapter and the end of it a bit other than I had planned it, I hope you review nevertheless.