The early summer sun trickled down through the tiny window pane into the large chamber bedroom, only to fall on a tall figure, dressed in robes as black as night. The addition of the light allowed the dust that was filtering silently through the air to be seen. The dungeon was home to not only the students of Slytherin, but to the Potions Master as well. Although, the arrangement was not to his liking, Severus Snape did his best to accept the circumstances as gracefully as possible.
Severus lounged quietly upon his deep black leather couch which adorned his private chambers. He was practically raised in a dungeon, and extremely disliked having the quiet interrupted because of the children he had to baby sit. As he had become engrossed in his reading, he hadn't noticed how his unkempt, jet black hair fell on his forehead. Mechanically, he pushed a pale hand through the locks. He loosed a sigh as he stood to his full height and placed the book on the drum table. Since all of the students had left Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry, and all of his personal belongings had been packed by the house-elves and awaited his departure, there was not much for him to do. The Potions classroom had been fully repaired and returned to its normally neat and orderly state, following the explosion of Longbottom's end of year Examination.
Adjusting his flowing robes, he walked to the bedroom of his vast, and spare, chambers. Only another hour or so before Albus releases me from my yearly contract, he thought. It would only be too wonderful to go home to his rolling hillside estate which over looked the sea. God knows he could use the brake. Shutting the door, he allowed his long stride to bring him into contact with his bed. Perhaps meditation will elevate the anxiety he was beginning to feel. As he sat upon the bed, his somber black eyes came into contact with a silver frame which stood upon the mantle of his fireplace, quietly collecting dust. Unlike most Wizard pictures, this one did not move. Rising, he approached the snapshot of himself and another. A raven haired vixen with eyes as blue as the sky and her mouth, like his, was smiling as they stared into each other, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of each other's souls. The woman in the picture was young, beautiful. They stood together in this photograph, not too much unlike the way they has stood together until he had done the unthinkable. Reaching out an unsteady hand, he began to turn the picture toward the wall when he heard a muffled cough.
Severus swung around, silver frame in hand, to face the very man to whom he owed more than life. "Headmaster."
Albus Dumbledore stood in his bedroom chamber doorway, hands customarrly tucked into the long colorful robe he wore. His long white beard floated a bit before him, even as he smiled. "Severus. I was hoping to have a word with you before you left for the holidays." After a quick glance at the frame in the Potions Master's hand, he continued. "Would you be kind enough to meet me in my office in about 20 minutes?" He turned to leave. "You may want to dust off your photograph, Severus. After all, Alexis would not approve of such untidiness." He left.
Severus watched him leave. Albus was correct. Alexis would have frowned at the way he'd allowed the picture to sit and gather dust. But then, his wife didn't care what he did anymore, just so long as it landed him in Hell, as she had told him when they parted.
Placing the frame back on the mantel, he turned it toward the wall.
Pop!
Albus Dumbledore watched as the slightly short woman Apparated before his desk. Her waving blue-black hair stood out slightly from the bit of wind that must have been blowing when she had left what ever she'd been doing.
"Father!" the woman cried. Coming round the desk, even as Albus stood, she began to scan over his body, looking for any signs that all was not well. "Your Owl stated it was urgent! Are you all right? What's going on?"
"I'm fine, child. Stop your foolishness." Albus swept her into his arms, hugging her slim body tightly. "I simply stated that it was urgent for I needed your help, and unlike your siblings, you have tendency to be tardy for all occasions." He moved her to the table set near his desk, already festooned with a pot of tea and crumpets. He sat, and after a moment, she followed suit. Unlike most witches and wizards, she chose to dress like a Muggle. Her pale blue-jeans, tank top shirt and long leather trench coat were a completely outcast when compared to her father's office.
Alexis studied her father with careful eyes. "If you'd wanted me hear quickly, you would have just said so. No. You said it was urgent. What are you up to, Father?" Her soft, red mouth curved up at the corners. While her father was correct in the fact that she was a procrastinator by nature, she knew that she always came when he called. His youngest, although she was 27, she knew that all of her older brothers and sister would never defy their father. No one was that stupid.
Albus leaned back after handing her a cup tea, one sugar. Pale blue eyes met pale blue eyes. In a voice softer than she'd ever heard, he simply stated. "Voldemort." Alexis almost dropped her cup. Some of the lukewarm beverage sloshed over the edge as she hastily put down the offending item. "As you know, Alexis, he has returned to finish what he started fifteen years ago. But, before I explain further I must tell you that everything said with in these walls must stay with in these walls."
"Of course, Father." Alexis knew the penalty for betraying her father's trust. She started to open her mouth to say something further when there was slight knock on the office door before it was thrown open. She swiveled in her chair, hoping to greet one of her father's friends, but instead came face to face with...
"Severus!" The words came out choked. They stared at each other in total bewilderment. Neither moved. She watched his eyes, those eyes that promised both burning passion and a cold breeze, slide over her face as if trying to deny what he was seeing. He hasn't changed.