Chapter 1

The burning of his dark mark woke Severus Snape from his already light sleep all to easily. The Headmaster couldn´t remember the last time he had caught some quality sleep since the dark Lord had returned. Quikly getting up Snape waved his wand and summoned his Deatheater robes and mask. Knowing that he was expected to arrive as soon as possible he strode out of his bedroom into the Headmasters office. Dumbledores portrait was already awake and smiled at him. " Another meeting, my boy?".Snape only grunted in reply disapparated with a crack of displaced air.

Harry was on his knees, his hands bound behind him and his friends next to him in simmilar positions. Dobby the House elf lay behind them in a puddle of his own blood and a knive sticking out of his chest. They had not managed to escape Malfoy manor.

Voldemort stood directly infront of Harry. His long fingered, ice cold hands grabbing Harrys chin forcing him to look into his red eyes.

"It seems we meet again Potter" said Voldemort in his high pitched tone. Around them more and more dark robed and masked Deatheaters started forming a circle. " Ahh I will enjoy finishing you off. Then nothing will stand in my way. Your death will crush the last bit of Hope of those who still resist me."with that the dark Lord shoved Harrys head away and directed his attention to his followers. " Now we cannot grant them death so easily. I think we can amuse ourselves a bit before that. Severus where are you ? Come forth and have the honour of the first round. I recall you have quite the grudge against Potter." called the dark Lord. With that, the dark robed right hand man stepped forward and bowed deeply."My Lord"Snape drawled and stood straight again. Harry still remembered the day Dumbledore died like it was yesterday. How the green flash pushed the old man of the tower. How emotionless Snape had looked if it werent for the hatred that burned in his eyes. That same emotionless mask still in place Dumbledores murderer now turned to him. He had always known that his Potions professor hated him and now he was going to feel that hatred through the Cruciatus curse or perhaps a more creative new invention of the man before his master finished him off. Being faced with the hated professor again he felt his defiance rise and he stared back into the black eyes. Snape raised his wand and Harry braced himself for the Torture determined not to scream.

The following happend within in seconds. One moment Snapes wand was raised towards Harry and his friends, the next he was swinging it in a wide circle movement and a massive wall of fire was surrounding them. Going over fluidly from the circle into a sharp stabbing motion towards the large windows wich exploded leaving behind a large opening. Not stopping Snape made another half circle motion in the direction of Harry and his friends. Harry felt himself falling towards the black robed man still not understanding what was happening. As soon as Harry connected with Snape he saw his friend in a simmilar condition. They seemed to be stuck to his robes and felt as they started to fly. In a swirl of black smoke they raced towards the opening by the windows. Behind them Harry heard screams and smelled burned flesh. Now from greater distance he could see that the wall of flame actually was a giant serpent that chasing the remaining deatheaters around. But just as the Snake was about to incinerate another group the pale figure of Voldemort beside it slashed its wand at the fiendfyre. This caused the giant snake to slam into the ceiling and disintegrate into a giant ball of fire wich the dark lord send rushing after them. Snape seemed to have noticed it as well and managed to barely dodge it. Harry felt the blistering heat of the cursed fire rush across his back. Looking back again another black cloud was following them. Voldemort was flying alone and therfore rapidly gaining ground. But it seems the dark lord was not content to simply chase them down for he started to shoot several beams of green light after them. The swarm of death curses forced Snape to dive closer to the ground. Escaping the first volley was not enough for Voldemort already sent follow ups after them. Harry could here Snape panting and saw several beads of sweat rolling down the stern Potins masters forehead. Carrying three people took an obvious toll on the man. Despite that he turned around, still flying away form the manor but now being able to look back. The killing curses were coming ever closer and Harry already that he would die afterall but Snape had other plans for he pulled his wand in a sharp motion upwards and with it a chimney with part of the ceiling still attached rose to intercept the green bolts. Following that Snape gained altitude continued his race towards the borders of the manor. Voldemort had not yet given up and continued hurling spell their way but he seemed to have mixed thing up for Snape now mixed dodging with blocking the spells using a silver white magic shield. They were getting ever closer to the edge of the hedges when Voldemort started using the evironment around them. Tentacles out of hedges started grasping for them trying to slow them down and forcing Snape to sever them before they were caught. But finally they flew over the border of the Manor. Immidiatly Harry felt the twisting sensation of disapparition.

And again. And again. Three times Snape disapparted causing his three charges to fall to the ground as soon as he released them. Ignoring them for the moment he begun to wave his wand in a complex pattern and startet a low chant. Setting wards to prevent immidiate detection was of paramount importance.

The three friends on the ground had all vomited and were still dry heaving after having been apparated three times in a row. Slowly they got up and stared at there former Potions professor. He had killed Dumbledore. He had betrayed the Light, why was he saving them ? Was he trying to regain there trust ? No they had been already as good as dead if it weren´t for Snape right now. So what was going on ? The man in question still didn´t seem to pay them any attention and was fully immersed in his chant. They looked at each other in question and moved on to their surroundings.

In the darkness it was hard to make out but it looked like they were in a clearing of a forest. In that moment Snapes chanting stopped and they focused on him again.

He was still ignoring them and started to fiddle around with his marked arm. Harry noticed that Snapes arms were shaking and his face was a picture of pure agony and pained gasps were escaping him. When he did manage to lift his robe up on his arm the dark mark looked almost alive as it was twisting around the fore arm. Small black veins were going out from the mark slowly turning the whole forearm black.

The three teenagers were frozen in shock. They almost died not 10 minutes ago, then their most hated professor whom they thought betrayed their side rescued them and now the self same professor seemed to be dying in front of them. The now former Death eater had not the same problems for he slowly placed his wand above the dark mark. His hands were shaking badly but he managed to hold them still long enough to speak the incantation "Diffindo". He fell on his knees the moment the arm seperated. The newly amputated arm continued to turn black but Snape let out a breath of relief. The thump of the arm hitting the ground yanked Hermionie out of her shock and she ran for the kneeling form of the professor, trying to help him.

Before she could reach him however, Snape, with a wave of his wand caused her to fall on her behind and snarled at her "Stay away Granger." Ignoring them once again Snape pointet his wand at his stump murmering a healing charm wich was stopping the bleeding. He follows that with two potion vials he summoned out of his robes with a flick of his wand. After drinking what Harry assumed were a pain killer and blood replenisher potion Snape slowly stood up. Still wobbly on his feet he took several calming breaths. " Come here " whisperd Snape waving them over. The trio looked at each other uncertainly Hermione clutching her wounded arm. " Come here, Now" repeated Snape, now more forcefully. When they still hesitated he scowled at them fiercly and simply forced them with another wave of his wand. Harry and his friends once again flew towards the scowling man. Again they fell on the ground after being forcefully side along apparated. Now they landed on soft carpet and when they startet to look around their gazes met the stares of dozens of portraits. The room they were in was filled with all kinds of magical knick knacks and was dominated by a large desk. Harry clearly recognised it as the Headmasters office. It still looked the same since he was last here even though the Headmaster had changed."What the hell is going on ? Why have you saved us? Tell us!"shouted Harry now at the new Headmaster in question."Silence yourself Potter. All will be explained in time. For now there are more important things to do than to answer your questions."drawled Snape only a slight undercurrent of pain still audible in his voice. Pointing his wand at his own throat Snape spoke:"Emergency announcement. All Staff will meet in the Courtyard. Prefects will escort their Housemates to the great Hall and wait for further Instruction. This is all".

Author Note: This is my first story ever and I am not a native speaker of the english languageso if you find any mistakes I would be very grateful if you point them out to me. Furthermore I haven´t read the books in while and only rewatched the movies recently so the details might be a bit of a mix of the two. The main Characte is Snape and I having the movie version of him in my head while writing this. If I remember correctly there are several differences between the two versions.

Have a good Day.