A/N: A pox on you, Yami, for inspiring another Severus chapter. I wanted to do a Peter one, and instead I get this. Ah well. Same idea, I suppose. I'll save Pete for later.

'Well, Evans certainly gets brownie points,' Severus though icily as he swept out of the library with all the dignity he could muster after having his world so severely shaken. It wasn't everyday you found two Gryffindors arguing about the merits of your best friend's character.

The fact that this little fling seemed to cause some rift in Black and Potter's relationship brought him some satisfaction, but it was bittersweet because he knew that Regulus would be their sacrifice. Whichever one of the 'dynamic duo' won in the end, Regulus couldn't win.

Fully intent on returning to the Slytherin common room and waiting for Regulus there, he was somewhat surprised to hear muffled sobs coming from a nearby classroom. Curious, if not intending to help in anyway, Severus poked his head in the slightly ajar door.

It looked as though a Hippogriff gone mad had been released inside the classroom. Desks were over turned, papers shredded, and sitting in the middle of it was Regulus. He wasn't so much sitting as lying curled up on his side with his knees pulled up to his chest.

It dawned on Severus that person responsible for the disaster was probably none other than Regulus himself. No small number of moments passed before Severus could fully comprehend this information. He had never known Regulus to be destructive before…but then he'd never known him to cry before either and he most certainly was now.

Stepping into the confusion of a room, he made his way across the room. He was sure to make a slight amount of noise so as not to startle Regulus completely. Once he reached the younger boy's side he sat down and pulled out his book.

Severus Snape was not one for comforting crying people. He felt it was entirely up to them to stop regain their composure. Normally he would have left the crying person alone, but this was Regulus and as such he merited special treatment.

He turned the pages lazily until the sniffling subsided and Regulus sat up, looking ashamed of himself. Snape shut the book and turned to look at his young friend.

"What happened?"

"Had a talk with Potter," Regulus answered, his voice thick. Severus scowled.

"I told you to stay away from him!"

"It's not like I tried, okay? He just kind of…appeared. He said that he loved me, no matter what. He kissed me again, and left. And I…" Regulus paused for a moment to collect himself, and Severus didn't interrupt, "and I lost control. He showed up, and we fought."

"So I heard."

"You heard?"

"From Evans, who apparently has the nasty habit of eavesdropping. She was arguing with him in the library. Seemed to think you were a nasty little brute intent on breaking Potter's heart."

Regulus scowled, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his thin arms around them. "I don't care."

"You should. If anyone but me had heard that and you tried to get the Dark Mark it would mean certain death for you."

"Severus…that's the part I don't care about anymore."

Snape closed his eyes wearily. He wanted desperately to imitate Regulus's position, but knew he couldn't. Knew that would show weakness. Knew that would show he genuinely cared about Regulus, something he had been avoiding for six years. Instead, he leaned back on his hands. "You don't care if you die?"

"Well…I do. In a way, but…I don't think dying could be any worse than what I'm going through right now, can it?"

"When I'm dead I'll be sure to tell you."

"Thanks for that, Severus."

The two sat in silence for a while, Regulus taking deep trembling breaths. Severus frowned at the floor.

"I'm not going to let you do this," he said after a while. "It's suicide. If Potter isn't on the Dark Lord's list already he will be as soon as he leaves school. To align yourself with him is to akin to pledging open allegiance to Albus Dumbledore."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It is a bad thing, you half-wit."

"Careful, Severus. Someone might think you cared about me."

"Regulus, listen to me. No, shut up and listen to me. The Dark Lord has powers more terrible than you can possibly imagine. Being the purest of the pure will not save you when the Dark Lord wins…and he will win. He has done things to people that Dumbledore can't even fathom. He has powers the Headmaster will never have. Dumbledore will not be able to protect you, no matter what he promises. The best thing to do is align yourself with the winning side and keep your head down."

"At what cost?"

"Any cost."

Silence again as Regulus put his chin on his knees, a look of deep thought on his face. After a while he spoke again, still not looking at Snape. "I don't think I can do it. Killing people, I mean. I can barely punish a house elf. I'm just not made for it."

Severus said nothing as he began to gather his books into a pile.

"Have you, Severus? Killed anyone I mean?" Regulus was looking at him now, his blue eyes alive with emotions that Severus couldn't even name. Emotions he doubted he'd ever felt.

The older Slytherin stood up, looking away Regulus. Why couldn't he protect the boy without destroying him? "Once."

"What was it like?"

"It was the most terrible thing I've ever done in my life, and I've done some pretty terrible things. If you can find a way out of it and still live, do it." Leaving the sixteen-year-old alone to brood, Severus walked toward the door.

"Severus?"

He stopped, half turning around.

"Yes?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

A pause. "Once."

"What would you do for her?"

"Anything, if she asked. But she won't."

"Could you forgive me, if I did anything for the person I loved?"

"I have a better question, Regulus. Can you if you don't?" With a wave of his wand to straighten the classroom, Severus left Regulus alone and hated himself more with every step he took.