Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Writers Notes: Thanks to my beta HGranger89 and thanks to my readers for the feedback.
Severus stood in Dumbledore's office while the old man remained seated behind his desk, stroking his pet phoenix, Fawkes. The portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses hung on the wall and watched the Potions Master pace around the room. The man was panicked by the events of the previous night with Quirrell and the Stone.
Blood and fear pounded in his veins at the idea of the Dark Lord residing in the school for nine long months, close enough to Potter to snatch him up in the middle of the night. He blanched at the notion that the savior of the wizarding world or, any other child under their care could have been kidnapped or tortured by that horrifying monster. He had almost failed his mission of protecting Lily's son. He knew something was dodgy about Quirrell and he had vowed to protect the Potter boy for her. It was the reason why he oversaw the detention with Quirrell; why he kept an eye on Quirrell; and why he always kept an eye on Potter from afar.
Severus had to atone for his sins because he was the reason Lily, his childhood best friend, had been killed. Severus knew he would never be able to assuage his guilt, as he couldn't forgive himself. No matter what he did, no matter how many years he protected the boy, he would never be able to bring Lily back to life, and his punishment was to suffer from that knowledge for the rest of his life. However, Lily died for her son, and he would not let her sacrifice be in vain.
"So with the Stone destroyed, the Dark Lord cannot come back?" Severus asked even though he firmly believed that this wasn't the case.
"Severus, you know more than I, that there are many ways he could return, and he will return someday," Dumbledore said as he stroked Fawkes.
He turned to his most trusted employee, knowing something was weighing heavily on the young man's mind. It was incredibly rare to see me him in such an emotional state. "Something on your mind Severus?"
"Headmaster," Severus paused for a moment before continuing, "I did everything in my power to stop Quirrell all year long. If the Dark Lord ever returns, I may have destroyed my position among his ranks," Severus tried to hide his fear from the Headmaster.
"Severus, I have full confidence that when Voldemort returns, you'll be able to maintain your position as a spy," Dumbledore spoke with conviction.
He offered Severus a lemon drop, which Severus declined. He hated lemony things; they reminded him of Lily's shrew of a sister. If he never had to see Petunia, the Dark Lord or Sirius Black until they met in hell, he would die happy, or as comfortable as someone like Severus could be.
Wrapping up their meeting, Severus returned to the dungeons. The school year was almost over; he just had to endure the Graduation ceremony, the Leaving Feast and the awarding of the House Cup, then he'd been rid of the dunderheads for the summer. Slytherin had won the House Cup for the eleventh year in a row. This cheered him up slightly, but nothing could erase dark cloud that lingered in his mind thanks to the Dark Lord's near return.
The year had been depressing, and soon he would return to his lonely life in his half dilapidated house in the drug and crime infested neighborhood of Spinner's End. Thanks to Severus' deep self-loathing, he felt that it was a suitable place for him to live as a punishment for his sins. He lived alone because he didn't deserve to be happy with someone after his many unredeemable actions. Lily and countless others couldn't have happy lives because of him, so he deserved to continue living in the hovel he had grown up in, abused by his father and unloved by his mother. Even if he could take away his past actions, he knew deep down it wouldn't matter, no one had ever loved Severus Snape.
"Professor?" As he reached his office door, Severus heard a small voice behind him. The Potions Master pinched the bridge of his nose, just wanting to be alone with his dark thoughts, not plague by dunderheads. Snape whipped around, his robes billowing behind him, to see the little witch Hermione Granger staring back at him wide-eyed and nervous.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Severus said trying to hide his annoyance and impatience.
"Professor," She said in a small voice, looking down at the stone floor, "I wanted to apologize. I let people say horrible, nasty things about you and I just listened without defending you, even after you saved my life." Severus was astonished again by this slip of a girl. In all his years of teaching, not one student had sincerely thanked him, let alone apologized to him, and now Hermione Granger had done both. Gratitude was a whole new experience for him, and he felt like he didn't deserve any of it.
"I was simply doing my duty Miss Granger," Snape said to the girl who looked back up at him smiling.
"Have a good summer, Professor!" She chirped and bounded away, skipping down the hall.
The Great Hall was decorated in Slytherin colors of emerald and silver. Severus smirked as the Headmaster stood on the raised dais to award the house cup.
"Another year has passed, and the House Cup needs to be awarded." All eyes were on the Headmaster.
"In fourth place, we have Gryffindor with 312 points," Minerva looked like Dumbledore told her she had to work over the whole summer.
"In third place, we have Hufflepuff with 352 points," Pomona just seemed pleased to not be in last place this year.
"In second place, Ravenclaw with 426 points," Filius was happy at the hard work his Ravens did this year.
"And in first place, we have Slytherin with 472 points." The entire Slytherin table erupted in cheers, and the only other student in the Great Hall who applauded the victory was Hermione, while the staff clapped stiffly, bitter that Slytherin had won again. Filius excluded, they gave Severus forced smiles when they shook his hand.
"Don't cheer! We lost to the Snakes!" Ron snarled at Hermione with disgust.
"It's called being a good sport, Ron!" Hermione said. She knew Ron's resentment towards her would remain the same but she no longer cared. She felt a pinch of sadness at having to return home for the summer, but it was only for two months. She was already looking forward to returning to Hogwarts on September 1st.