Chapter 10: Severus

I could not believe what I was hearing come out of Albus' mouth. Granted, he was always coming up with things that surprised me, but this one was absurd. Pyromancy? It's such an old form of magic that one hardly hears of it anymore. Now he was saying that Hermione was gifted with it and I was destined to aid her?

I rubbed my temple as the pain that had subsided earlier returned with vigor. My very bones ached and my skin felt scorched. I am getting older and more tired. This new development gave me no hope for peace anytime soon.

I half-heartedly listened to Albus trying to calm Miss Granger. Hermione. Tightening my lips, I grew more aggravated that I was on a first name basis with her. Formalities suited me better, for they helped me maintain necessary distance. Of course, it didn't look like distance would be of any help to me now.

I thought about the non-magical properties of the ruby. It's strongly associated with passion and love. If the idea wasn't so annoyingly ridiculous, I might laugh. I'm not celibate, not by any means. But, I have never experienced love, nor have I wanted to. It was much easier to visit a brothel in Knockturn Alley. For several galleons, I leave with my lust sated and no attachment to worry about.

Pulling myself from my thoughts, I turned my ear to Albus.

"You can't go, Hermione. They are in enough danger as it is; going to them would only serve to make their plight more precarious. It will not be long until Voldemort learns of your powers and wants to use them for his benefit. In fact, Severus will be telling him shortly." He turned his gaze to me and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Headmaster, surely that isn't the best thing to do under the circumstances." The old man has completely lost his mind. I frowned, thinking of how much danger this was going to put the girl in, not to mention, it would make my status as a spy even more unstable.

"We have no choice. If you did not inform him and he found out through other channels, your place as spy would be forfeit. He would not believe that you knew nothing of it and would therefore make you pay dearly for keeping secrets from him."

He was right, even though it pained me to admit it. Still, I did not like the idea. It was one thing for me to be endangered, since I am used to it, but quite another to put an innocent girl up before one of the most feared wizards of all time. She was apparently thinking the same thing.

"Sir! You can't be serious. Surely there is a way…" She was stopped short by Albus.

"Hermione, listen to me. You must be strong. There is a long road ahead, and you will be needed. You will be called on to do things that you would not do under normal conditions and you must do them in order to help Harry defeat Voldemort. We need you to be safe."

I imagine that she was praying to the Gods to make all of this go away. I knew from past experience that she would do what was necessary, but that did not mean it was fair.

"Once the Dark Lord finds out about this, he will try to get me to bend the girl to his will. If that doesn't work, he will simply take her." With every passing minute I grew more uncomfortable with the conversation.

Albus turned to me and spoke. "I'm aware of that. That is why it is imperative that you two work together. Not only do you share a common bond Severus, you must train her to block her mind so that she will be ready to face Voldemort. I'm afraid there is no other way."

No other way? I could think of a thousand other ways, all of which involve me being far away from this place and these people. But, it wouldn't do to shirk my duty. I've come this far and can't quit now.

I couldn't resist a sneer. "I hope she is more capable that Potter when it comes to Occlumency. Otherwise, we'll all be in trouble." I knew that I was just being difficult, but the whole situation rankled my nerves. I was actually excited to be able to train someone capable.

"Severus, can you just once stop being so snide? After this many years, it grows tiresome."

Feeling like a child that has been scolded, I retreated to silence. It wasn't often that he commented on my attitude and when he did, it made me feel as if I was in nappies again. Standing, I turned away as he spoke to Hermione once more.

"I will call for you again soon, but for now, return to the manor with Severus. I am sorry, but I must have him come back to me, for there are other things that I need to discuss with him."

So, we are not finished. At least maybe now I'll get some more answers. The sooner, the better.

The girl was silent as I took her hand. The jolt of warmth was instantaneous and flooded my body, immediately soothing the aches and pains that had returned. Yet another interesting turn of events. Maybe there is a way to harness that energy to help others. With a touch of my hand to the amulet, we were both back at Shacklebolt Manor.

Without a word, Hermione looked up at me, rather dazed with all that she had heard. Shaking her head as if to clear it, her eyes grew troubled. I knew she was once again thinking of her parents and the fact that they were in great danger.

Her next words surprised me.

"Will you promise to come back after you've spoken with Dumbledore?" She sounded much like the child she still was, frightened and alone. Gone was the defiance that she normally showed to me. I felt the need to soothe and protect her, which only served to irritate me. This would not do!

"It is, after all, my obligation to return. Unlikely as it sounds, I take my charge seriously." There! The necessary aloofness was back. Her expression changed to anger and she pressed her lips together to hold back a sharp retort.

"Well, then, go! I'd hate to burden you further." She whirled sharply and marched up the stairs.

Sighing, I shook my head. I would never understand the mind of a woman. Hopefully she wouldn't do anything to endanger herself in my absence. I once again grasped the amulet and returned to Hogwarts.


Albus was still sitting at his desk when I arrived. In the moment before he looked up at me, I noticed that he appeared older than a few moments before. It saddened me to think that this powerful wizard was starting to deteriorate.

"Severus, thank you for returning so swiftly. There is another matter of great importance that I must speak with you about."

As if his revelation earlier wasn't enough? "I assumed so; otherwise you would not have had me return."

His face grew thoughtful. "Remember long ago when you came to me after your mother's death?"

I snorted. "That is not something that I'm likely to forget. It is, after all, the reason that I am here today." The doddering old fool! How many times must he remind me of that night?

"I can never repay you for what you have done for the Order and for me. I realize what a sacrifice this life has been and I'm sorry that I can't give you back what you have lost." He paused, as if weighing his words carefully. "I always take it for granted that you know how much you mean to me, but perhaps I don't tell you enough. I look on you as a son and I trust you implicitly."

Of all the things that I expected to hear, this was not one of them. Albus knows that I detest outward displays of emotion and he usually respects my wishes. The fact that he was telling me this now made my throat tighten with restrained emotion.

"It is folly to place such store in a mere human being, Albus." I spoke without emotion, for I did not want him to suspect that I felt the same. This man had been everything to me that my father had not. I'm not saying that he didn't use me to further his Cause, but I knew that he only did what was necessary, and I respected him for that.

The old twinkle returned to his eyes and I knew that my words did not fool him. "Yes, well perhaps you are right, Severus. I am glad that you view it that way. It will make what I'm about to ask you to do much easier."

As he calmly told me of the prophecy and his interpretation of it, I wondered how he could take his own demise so calmly. When he told me what else I must do, I was filled with panic.

He sadly shook his head, reaching across to put a hand on my shoulder. "I realize that you're already shouldering many burdens and this will be difficult, but you must do as I ask."

"I cannot believe that after I all have done that you would ask this of me! I won't do it, I refuse." I was so upset that I didn't care who saw my emotions. I couldn't do it. I would not be the one to kill Albus Dumbledore!


A/N:

Thanks to Jennifer for doing the beta for this chapter.

As you can see, I'm going in the vein of many people's theories of HBP (mine included) that there was some sort of agreement between Severus and Albus about what had to happen. However, it is in a totally different setting, so I hope you enjoy how I'm twisting it. LOL

Disclaimer:

A given. Of course, if I owned these characters, Severus would be too busy to participate in this fic right now. whistles innocently LOL