Authors Note: Another chapter already, I know. I'm on a roll. This one I think is long and for SURE, the end of the memories. I bet you're dying for the reactions that are going to ensue.

Big authors note, my sister is an author on this website, she's into the Anime Naruto, her screename is ReadySteadyTETSU and tomorrow is her 16 birthday (which means she will be driving me to school so if my updates suddenly cease, you know why ) so if you have the time just stop in and wish her a happy birthday, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.

Chapter 28

It's Going to Rain Today

The laughter of the Marauders was obnoxiously loud, "Why do you fight back, Snivellus?" Sirius' voice was harsh, "becoming a weakling, just like your whore of a friend, Sarah, eh?"

Severus tensed, but didn't respond, as another curse sent him flying backwards, "No, Sirius," he stood slowly, ignoring the blood that dripped from the gash in his forehead, "No, I don't fight back because I have this thing called integrity. I won't stoop to your level of disgracefulness."

"Big words, for a man with such little power," Sirius and James sent a joint curse towards them and Severus easily side-stepped it.

Just to the side, almost out of sight, was Sarah, looking nervous, but locked in place with a spell, and behind the Marauders was Lily, looking uncertain.

"Fight back, you little weasel," Sirius sent another curse, and instead of evading, he smoothly held out his wand and cast a lazy shield. The curse slowed as it neared and instead of the shield absorbing it, it spun the curse around sending it flying back towards Sirius, moving twice as fast, with twice as much power.

Severus stood in the ready stance as if to shoot another curse, but a scream distracted his attention. Sarah was tied in ropes, but she was kicking desperately at the rat form of Peter Pettigrew as he tried dragging her away, "Get off me, you little rat! Severus! Help!" Just as Severus shot a curse at Peter (his aim was true, Peter went flying) Sirius and James sent multiple curses at him. His back hit the tree by the river…hard and he zoned out for a moment.

When he came too, the crowd that formed had dispersed and Potter and his posse were walking away, "What a freak," he said in an obviously loud whisper, "right, Lily?" he put an arm around her waist to make sure Severus could see.

She looked at him, and then back at Potter, "Yeah," she whispered maliciously, the uncertain look disappearing, "what a freak."

………

"Let me have a look now, Mr. Snape," Madam Promfrey had pulled off Severus outer robes and was now fighting with him about his undershirt. When it was off, it revealed smooth, pale, scar less skin (the disguise even covered the scars). The only thing that marred the flesh was the dark bruises that covered his back, "care to explain these, Mr. Snape?"

"No." he said simply, "I don't, but I have to anyway, don't I…?"

"That mouth is going to get you a detention one of these days, Mr. Snape," she pushed him onto his stomach and began muttering spells under her breath. He propped his head up on his elbows, crossing his ankles and bending his legs at the knee, so he could swing them up and down as he pleased, smiling at Sarah, amused, all the way.

"It already has?"

"Oh," she put her wand in her mouth and forced him to sit up as she tightly wound bandages around his stomach and chest, "how many?" she muttered through the stick of wood.

"257," he said. The smug smile on his face only proved the point that detentions aren't punishments, only badges to be worn proudly, for his misbehaviors.

Madam Promfrey smiled, "You seem awfully proud of something you shouldn't be,"

"Why shouldn't I be, my goal is 300 on the spot by the end of 7th year, so if you're lucky. I'll get them all halfway through and have to be a good boy for the rest of the year." He jumped out of the bed, pulling on his shirt and robes.

Promfrey rolled her eyes, "'You' and 'good' never work well in the same sentence, Mr. Snape, now off you go. I don't want to see you back here for any reason."

………

"You seemed to have developed a good relationship with the school nurse," Sarah smiled at him, knowingly, "may I ask why?"

"You may."

"Why?"

"I've been in there once or twice."

"For a numerous of things,"

"Would these numerous things happen to be one, an annoying prick with messy black hair, dark eyes, glasses and a very pompous attitude and two, being another annoying pompous prick, which has a sadistic sense of humor when it comes to cursing fellow students and he smells like old socks and wet dogs?" That being Potter and Black.

"Yep, but you can't forget magic number three, an annoying, yet clever, beautiful girl, with brown hair that she usually wears up, who also enjoys throwing the said injured one off broom sticks out the window."

"Severus! I told you it was an accident!"

He leaned in close to her ear and smiled, "Who said I was talking about you?" and he winked.

"Severus Snape!" He took off, she not far behind, swinging her book bag wildly.

"I told you, you were abusive!" he screamed back at her, slowing down. They both stopped, panting and laughing.

………

"Severus," her voice was soft and already apologetic.

She caught there attention just as the sun was setting near the lake. Hermione could tell she really didn't want Sarah there, but it seemed Sarah and Severus was inseparable now days.

"Lillian," she cringed, he was not happy.

"Will you just hear me out?"

"Since I don't have the right to be deaf, I guess I don't have a choice." He said coolly and softly, yes, he was not happy, not happy in dead.

"Please, Ash,"

"Don't call me that." She sighed and tried again.

"Severus, I'm sorry, but he wanted me to choose between you and him."

"I can see who you chose,"

"But we can still be friends, can't we?" she asked. She looked so pathetic and hopeful, yet so easy to turn down.

"I'm sorry, Lillian, but no, we can't."

She sighed, looking down at her feet, "I'm sorry we couldn't be friends, Severus, you and James would get along so well."

"Trust me, we wouldn't, now if you don't mind," he brushed past her, barely sparing her a glance, gently brushing Sarah's shoulder, signaling his leaving.

"Severus, you're serious about not be friends?"

He smiled softly, as if he was leaving his best friend to go off to college or he was walking to his death and they would never see each other again, "Goodbye, Evans," he nodded and walked away.

………

"Do you actually want to go to this, Ash?"

"Just to see what it's like, it's not like me joining is permanent," Severus was carefully packing away ingredients, "the best part is, they said if I didn't want to permanently join, they could find a place for me to become apprenticed to a Potions Master and work for him."

"I'm happy for you. I went to talk to Dumbledore yesterday," she began handing him ingredients that she knew he would need, "I asked him about a teaching job here. My parents and I always talked about me becoming a teacher, but since I've become a witch I've wanted to work with magic, so I figured a Potions professor would be perfect."

"That's great, just think; I could come and hang out with you when I'm not working."

"I'd like to get to see you when I'm not working."

They smiled as Severus tied of the last pouch full of ingredients and placed it inside his shoulder bag, "see ya later, shorty,"

"Get out of here, alien."

"I'm only alien to you," he snapped his fingers and pointed fingers at her like a gun, in that cheesy fifties way.

She laughed as he waved over his shoulder one last time before closing the door with a final bang.

………

"Severus, ah, I am glad you have come,"

"Lord Voldemort," he bowed his head formally, not dropping to his knees like the others. Tom didn't expect that apparently.
"Come here, Severus, my child, I'd like to speak with you."

They walked out of the large dark dining room, Tom putting an arm over Severus shoulder's guiding him downstairs towards the dungeons, "I've been thinking, Severus, you have been a great addition to our movement."

"Thank you, my Lord," he smiled softly, still looking uncomfortable about the arm and where he was being led.

"We're going to the Potions room, no need to be uncomfortable." Tom seemed to sense his tenseness and the fact that he relaxed when he heard this, "I would like you to think about being my second,"

"Your…second?"

"If I fall, which I foresee,"

Liar…thought Hermione.

"Then I need someone to take over for me."

"Why not Lucius or the others, they have been with you far longer than I have."

"Severus, Severus, Severus," they had reached the door and Tom let him in first, it was almost identical to the one in Hogwarts, maybe a bit larger, "they are all very strong leaders….go head, continue unpacking," Severus did as he was told and began filling the shelves and cabinets with the ingredients. Some already full, "but I'm afraid they are too power-hungry. They all want to over throw me; I can see it every time they bow. They hate me, they want the power, the control, but you, Severus, you don't. That's what I like about you. I can trust you."

"Me? Me, I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly it's the honest ones you have to watch out for; because you never know, when they're going to do something incredibly… stupid."

Tom looked at him, confused for a moment before laughing out right, "You're going to be the death of me." He said.

"Remember that quote, it'll come back to haunt you in later years." Severus smiled, "but as for you proposition," he smiled thoughtfully, "I'll think about it."

"Come along then, I'd like you to see our work."

………

"Where are we?"

"A mudbloods house," Lucius' voice was cold, but eager.

"What are we doing?"

"We're destroying them,"

"What?" Severus jumped from where he was hidden behind the brush, "I won't, these are innocent people."

"No," Lucius grabbed his robes and pulled him back down, "they-,"
"Lucius!" Tom's sharp voice cut through, "come along Severus, let's talk,"

………

"Lord Voldemort, what have they done to deserve being killed?" the fire of the house was bright against his form, shadowing his eyes that were glowing with anger.

"Listen to me, Severus,"

"No! I trusted you! You said they wouldn't get hurt if they didn't have to, you said this was revenge, you said I didn't have to be here!" his voice was cut off by the rough slap across his cheek and the shove on his chest. He lay sprawled on the floor, breathing heavily in pain; his back was obviously still bruised.

"No, Severus," Voldemort pulled out his want, "I will not tolerate your disobedience, Crucio," Severus kept his mouth screwed shut as the light coursed through his body, "Crucio! Crucio! Crucio!"

After the spell was over, Severus just laid there, panting heavily in pain, but other than that no sign of the weakness, "you can't leave us now, Severus," Voldemort crouched down next to him and grabbed his arm, forcing the sleeve down and very gently touching the dark mark that had tattooed itself over the self-inflicted scars, "you belong to me now, you can't defy me or every one will know about this little secret. You see, we aren't as respected as we led you to believe, actually we are much hated. And if you even think about betraying me, well, the whole world will know."

………

Hermione flinched at the curse, she didn't know what it was like, but she's heard about it, one account being from her best friend and she couldn't even imagine the pain.

………

Some time seemed to have passed. They were older now, maybe two years. Ashitaka looked tired and worn; he was paler, smiling less, bags under his eyes. Sarah on the other hand was blossoming; she had been accepted as a teacher from Dumbledore part time for now, since she was only 19, Potions, just like she wanted. Occasionally Ashitaka (a foreign Professor from a Private Magic School in France) would help and teach some more difficult potions to the brighter students.

Physically they had both changed since they first met. Ash was tall, no longer that cute bubbly mysterious kid, but the definition of tall, dark and handsome. The vines were darker, his power growing, his eyes were still the panther slits that, when teaching or in public, he hid behind dark glasses. Hermione could only imagine what he was like in panther form.

Sarah had changed as well. She had gotten that perfect hour glass figure that made the entire guys stare. Her long brown hair had lost its frizzy curl and was now dark brown and sleek, a super model's hair. She still had the little girl freckles that sprinkled her nose and cheeks. Rosy cheeks, with light brown eyes that were always smiling along with perfect pink lips. In all essence she was gorgeous.

"You have to go back tonight, another meeting?"

"Yes."

"I wish there was a way you could get out of this."

"I know, I've thought about it, but I've joined, it's my fault and I guess I have to live with the consequences."

"Wait a minute," she stared at him in surprise, "you can't put all that on your shoulders. It wasn't all you're fault. You didn't have a family and this was a perfect opportunity," she raised her hand to stop his protest, "the first blame would be what you call a family. And then, there's Dumbledore, God don't get me started on him, even, maybe if he paid a little more attention to the Slytherins instead of focusing on his oh so precious Gryffindors he could have seen this coming, but no, his babies reputations were too important to him. And then there's me. Ash, I helped you make this decision too and I willingly take some of the blame. Just don't put it all on your shoulders. You can't do that to yourself. It would destroy you."

"Finished?"

"Quite."

He smiled, "don't worry. I won't wallow in my guilt, I'll see you later, alright?" he grabbed his bag and walked to the door, pausing he turned to her and smiled, leaning on the frame, "love you."

"Love you too, now get out of here, you'll be late."

………

"Guess what we're doing tonight?" Lucius smirked as he watched Severus stir his potion.

"I don't care."

"You will; it's some one very important to you."

"If you say so, sweetie, now if you don't mind, darling, I have to finish my work, babe," Lucius glared.

"What was that for?"

"Well, honey, didn't you know," Severus grinned, taking on a New York accent, "you're the only one I care about, snookem's," he smirked.

Lucius looked disgusted before walking away.

………

"Let me go!" the scream traveled down to Severus' little nook in the dungeon, "you bastard's let me go!"

His head shot up, that voice was familiar. Curious, he followed the noises to the opposite side of the dungeon.

"I said, let me go!" Yep, definitely familiar.

"Sarah!" he broke the door with his magic without even thinking. She was tied, arms and legs bound in the corner, "Sarah!" as soon as was within three feet of her, a curse shot him backwards.

"Severus," Lucius smiled as the ropes crawled up Severus' arms and legs, binding him still, "Severus, Severus, Severus, how many times did I warn you that someone you cared for was going to get hurt tonight,"

"Traitor!" he hissed.

"Witch," was the only retort.

"Severus!" Sarah fought desperately at the ropes, but it was hopeless.

"Be quiet, you two are pathetic. This is what happens, Severus, when you attach yourself to someone. They just end up leaving you. Isn't that right? First your father left you, then your mother, then your friend Evans and now, Sarah will be leaving you, too."

"No."

"I'm sorry, Severus," the wand was raised and was directed at her chest, "good bye, Sinclare, Avada Kavadra."

………

He was just sitting. Sitting and staring. The rain was falling and he was just sitting and staring in the rain. He face was blank. In the middle of the gravel road leading up to what he knew as his childhood home, his robes pooled around him, his hair falling in his eyes. He looked alone because now…..he was alone.

"Severus," the soft voice didn't even startle him. He didn't flinch, didn't tense, and didn't even look. He just sat and stared at his old child hood home, "Severus, my child, what are you doing out here?"

There was a dagger in his hands that he gently ran his thumb against, his only motion, his thumb because his other fingers were already bleeding as was his arm. The Dark Mark was scarred.

Very gently, Dumbledore bent down and took the dagger from his hands, throwing it across the gravel so it disappeared through the mist of the rain, "Come along, my child, let's have a spot of tea, hm?" the twinkle was gone.

………

"She's dead."

That was the only sound in the room besides the soft crackling of the fire. Severus sat in that overstuffed red chair; knees pulled to his chest, a blanket lay over his shoulders.

"Who?"

"Sarah."

Dumbledore made no response, "My child, tell me what happened?"

It was a very simple version that he told, leaving out his whole history only telling how he was tricked, "It was my fault," his voice was a whisper.

More silence ensued.

"I want to make it up to her."

"How?"

"I can give you information, Lord Voldemort trusts me, I can get you information, anything,"

"And if I turn you away?"

"Then I'll snap my wand and turn myself into Azkaban," his voice was final. He wasn't bluffing.

"Then that's it, you will be my spy."

They sat in silence again. Severus had unwrapped himself from his blanket, pulling his feet down and was now quietly sipping tea.

After minutes passed he stood and walked to the door, "Severus?"

"Yes, Professor?"

"Don't bottle this up; if you need some one to talk, I'm here."

"Thank you, Professor,"

Just as he was about to walk out the door, he stopped and turned half to face Dumbledore, his face blank and cold, "I just want to let you know Professor. I take the blame for her death, but it wasn't all me. This is your fault too."

"I know, my child."

"Yes, Professor."

………

And the memories were over. In a split second the screen that they watched the horror play out on smoked and disappeared in a wisp of black. A black blur was up in a moment next to Hermione. It was a panther. Severus Snape, Potions Master was now a panther.

Moody's eyes went wide as did the rest of the Order to say the least. The panther back up a few steps, crouched, fur on end, teeth barred, a deep growl emitting from it's through, until when it was right at the door, he morphed back. Except it was Ashitaka that they stared fearfully at now. His eyes were dark, hands clenched at his side angrily, "Traitors," he growled, and he turned his fiery eyes on Dumbledore, "you of all people, next time Voldemort attacks I hope you're ready, good luck and good riddance," he sneered and was gone.

At that moment, Hermione found this hidden spout of courage and she did something that she never found possible. She yelled at her professors.

"He's right!" she screamed at them, standing up, "he's absolutely right. He trusted you. He really trusted you; after all he's been through for you. He gave his life away to protect a race that disowned him; he was willing to be killed to save hundreds, thousands of people he didn't know for you." Her verbal assault was directed at Dumbledore, "you…." She was shaking, "I trusted you. You not only destroyed the trust he had in you and the rest of the Order, but you destroyed the trust that I had in you. This is how you treat some one who is so loyal to you. If anyone is a traitor in this room it's you!"

She turned and fled from the room before any one could stop.

End Chapter 28

It's Going to Rain Today

Over 3400 words, Go me, woot! Tell me how I did!

It's not over yet!

Don't forget about the Demons betraying him too, and then there's the actually war and Voldemort and oooo, so many goodies coming up and I can't give any of them away!

AND YES, I did use a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' quote; I love that movie, so you might be seeing some more of those, depends on my mood.