Disclaimer: Me don't own anything.

A/N: hi, it's me again, (who else?)

Right, before we continue the story I just have thank the people who reviewed so here we go: Thank you so much Barb8, notwritten, Lilith Kayden and my special thanks goes out to Forest Jaguar, your review helped me a lot and I'll try to bear in mind to make it as 'munching' for you guys as possible. :P
oeh and I had to change Neville into Parvati in the first chapter cause I kind of forgot Neville doesn't have Advanced Potions.

A leap in the dark

Chapter two

Snowflakes

Severus opened his eyes to a stinging pain in his side. His eyes would only open half way, but it wasn't much help. His sight was far too blurry to make anything out, all he could see was bright light.

The pain in his side kept stinging and a soft pressure was bore on it, making it sting only harder. He groaned softly and vaguely heard something reply. There was a loud buzzing in his ears and only on the background could he hear something else, if he focused.

"Sevr's ca you ear me?" he made out and opened his mouth to answer. Opening it hurt; his lips were dry, the bottom one had swollen and his upper lip was chapped.

He abandoned the idea of answering and instead concentrated on feeling as he flex all his muscles one at a time. Every movement hurt and he couldn't even feel some of his muscles, mainly in his right arms and around his left wrist.

"How do you feel?" he could hear it clearly now. It was Poppy's voice. He opened his eyes and saw a pink blur leaning close to examine his dark orbs. This must be the hospital wing then, pathetic that after all those visits I still can't recognise it. He thought bitterly.

"Fine." his voice was raspy and barely audible. Poppy's pink blur went out of his limited sight and he heard someone opening a door. Two sets of footfalls entered the infirmary, one quiet, determined set and a nervous, trotting one. Albus and Minerva, what a surprise.

"Headmaster, I'm glad you came at this hour." Poppy said relieved. The headmaster must've nodded for Severus never heard his answer. Poppy then began explaining his injuries, "… so you see he's still very weak. Thankfully, I've managed to stop the bleeding. The wound on his shoulder will cause me some trouble I reckon, but it's nothing I can't deal with. He has several gashes across his chest, mostly on his abdomen. One specifically deep slash across his ribs was rather difficult to suture, but we'll just have to see whether it'll hold or not. One other thing, " he felt the tension rise, "Remus bit him, so next month…" she fell silent, but he knew exactly what they were thinking; next month he will become an even bigger monster than he already is.

His sight had sharpened in the few moments of rest as he watched the ceiling and a string of his greasy black hair that hang limply over his nose.

"When will he be ready to go back to teaching?" Albus asked tentatively.

"I'm fine and don't talk about me like I'm not here." He snapped, glad his voice was almost back to it's usual impressive snarly-ness. He moved to sit up but a hand pressed him down. Poppy looked disapproving down at the impossible man and mumbled something that he didn't care to hear.

"You should rest for now, dear old friend." Albus snickered as he stepped up to the bed and Severus glared at the far too amused Headmaster, "we'll see whether you'll be up to teaching in the morning." He nodded reluctantly, knowing the look Albus gave him, there was no arguing with the man once his mind was made up. Annoying Gryffindor traits.

Severus moved his gazed around to find Minerva, surely the woman had something to add as well, better get it over with. Instead the other person who had entered was a worried looking student.

"What is she doing in here!" he hissed, highly outraged. He glared daggers and Hermione backed a little up from her place at one of the other beds. She was waiting to be examined by madam Pomfrey and found herself a spot to sit down. It had been an exhausting night for the both of them.

"She rescued you while you were bleeding to your death out on the grounds." Albus spoke gently, "I believe you own someone a 'thank you'."

"I'm not a toddler, Albus, and I needn't thank anyone." Severus sneered and turned his face away from his company. Albus grinned at Hermione, his pure blue eyes twinkling and he shrugged apologetic.

Everyone heard Severus's sharp sudden intake of breath and looked at him. The muscles in his left arm tensed, leaving his arm shaking from strain. A horrified look crossed his face briefly, but it was gone so fast Hermione wasn't sure it had ever even appeared. His face was straight when he moved his dark eyes to Dumbledore's. There was something in them, Hermione recognised, but she couldn't figure out what. Albus's expression changed dramatically, from grinning easygoing to dead serious.

"I have to go, will you get my robes." He looked at Albus, it wasn't a question more like a command. Severus slowly got up and when Poppy tried to stop him he fended her hands off. "I'm not going to stay." In the mean time Albus had already crossed the room and stood in front of the fireplace.

"It'll kill you. Albus please say something." She tried desperately, alas in vain.

"It's in the second drawer on the left, right?" Albus asked ignoring Poppy and at a swift nod from Severus who was barely able to sit up he disappeared into the beautiful swirl of emerald green flames. Hermione looked upon the whole scene in quite some confusion. She felt like she missed some major part in what she had just watched.

"Severus you are in no state to even be thinking of walking, let alone what you're planning on doing!"

"I have no choice in the matter Poppy." He said, his voice missed the usual nasty edge, but it was only a moment's weakness, "Clean this up," he pointed at his lips, "and get me some painkillers." He demanded in his usual nastiness. Poppy cast two easy spells to heal his thick lip and fix the chap in his bottom one.

Poppy hesitated for a moment then went off to get the painkillers. Hermione was now alone in the room with Snape; the painkillers strong enough to undermine his amount of pain were stored in a different room adjacent to the ward, she remembered. Snape sat up in his bed, pants torn a little at the bottom. His chest was still covered in dried blood. She quickly looked down, a little flushed. She felt awkward watching a man she had never seen with as much as sleeve rolled up sitting there half naked. Especially because this person was Severus Snape. Her nasty Potions professor, the overgrown bat of the dungeons, though he doesn't look all that bad, she admitted as she stole another glance. He was stretching and she could see he suppressed a moan every time he moved a muscle.

His shoulder was tightly bandaged, as was cut across his ribs and his left wrist. Suddenly she understood what everyone was going on about. There on his left forearm, half covered by the bandage, a solid black tattoo graced his ghastly skin: the Dark Mark. It surprised her she hadn't noticed before, probably it had a spell to avert unwanted attention. She stared at it and didn't even notice Snape had stopped moving and was watching her shocked face instead.

"What are looking at!" he barked, a murderous look had settled upon his features. Hermione fell out of her trance-like state and cowered further away from him as he made an attempt at standing.

"Are you afraid of me, mudblood?" he hissed, uneven teeth glistering in the light from the torches floating around in the air. He stood slowly, carefully and staggered towards her.

"You want to leave? Well you can't! Not after what you've seen tonight." He ended with his lips turned in a disdainful snarl. He had almost reached the bed when she jumped off at the other side and moved back until she reached the wall behind her.

"Are we beginning to feel trapped perhaps?" he said nonchalant, the wicked snarl still in place, onyx eyes boring into her. He was fairly near now and she was sure he could hear her heart pounding as well as she could. He pressed his left arm against the wall, besides her head and leaned down to be at eye level with her. Her eyes widened till the point he was certain they would pop out. He looked her square in the eye and at the back of her mind she registered the fact that his eyes weren't as black as everyone thought they were. The orbs that seemed to pierce her soul were a very dark brown, on the edge of ebony but only not completely there yet.

"Don't think you'll get out of this! You were wrong taking me here and I'll make sure you'll regret it." he whispered infuriated, his face was only inches from hers, filled with the purest hatred she had ever seen. She had never been this intimidated by him.

Luckily Albus had chosen that precise moment to arrive back and she felt security filling her again. She looked at Snape who had stood up to his full height; she was over a head shorter than he was.

"Leave the poor girl alone Severus, you know you need to relax when you meet with Him." he handled Snape a folded black robe, shoes and a mask though she couldn't make out it's shape. Snape quickly pulled on the robe and shoes and Hermione noticed the pointy black hat attached to it. A Death Eater's cloak; so he's really being summoned. After his frightening performance just seconds ago, she had no doubt that tonight he might actually murder someone again. She had no doubt that he had killed before either.

Poppy came hurrying back inside the room and handed Snape some potions she believed would help him improve his condition for the moment, but it would only hold for about two hours or so. He would surely collapse after that Poppy warned but he waved her concern away.

"Be careful Severus, do come back to us alive." Albus prayed and Snape just gave him a glare, but Hermione could see there was an understanding between the two she was sure she would never grasp.

"I'll be fine, just make sure she," he pointed accusing at the slightly trembling form of Hermione, "doesn't breath a single word of what happened tonight, if Voldemort finds out I'm a werewolf, he'll make sure I'll never even think of brewing another Wolfsbane." He spat the last part mainly at her and then turned on his heel and left, a little lame still, but the black cape billowing behind him his own unmistakable manner.

Hermione knew only a few minutes had pasted since Snape had been summoned, but it had felt like an eternity when he had threatened her.

"I believe Severus just asked us to discuss a few matters, what about I walk you up to your dormitory and we'll talk thing over, would that suit you?" Albus asked pleasantly holding out an arm for her. Hermione finally moved from her place pressed to the wall and caught Albus arm.

Snape ran across the Hogwarts lawn, while the first snowflakes that week started to float down. He liked snow, it always looks so pure and made every flaw humans had created look beautiful all the same. He had no time for pretty sentiments however and pointedly ignored the soothing flakes that steadily whirled down.

Outside the gates he was finally able to apparate, hoping he wasn't too late for Voldemorts likes. He stood still for only a few seconds, reorganising his memories and emotions. He pulled on his mask and with a blank face apparated to their meeting. He didn't knew where he would end up, but when apparating to a meeting of Voldemort one only needed to concentrate on the burning pain and pulling force of the Dark Mark.

To his great surprise he appeared in the small backyard of an old ramshackle house, his ramshackle house. He quickly stepped inside through the backdoor and walked into the tiny kitchen, located next to the shabby living room.

He entered the living room and immediately kneeled before his Lord. He kissed the hem of Voldemorts simple black robe and rose. There weren't many Death Eaters gathered, probably because of the limited space they had in his humble house. Wormtail was there, as always, and in a quick glance he knew Bellatrix Lestrange and Coyle and Crabbe Sr. were among the hooded crowd as well.

"I must apologise for my delay, milord." Snape began explaining, but before he got to that the Dark Lord had stood up, something that was unusual. If the Voldemort was in a bad mood and didn't even allow him time to explain, he would've been Crucio'd on the spot with a mere flick of his wand. Instead the evil wizard leaned close and sniffed him.

"You smell of blood, tell us Severus what have you been up to?" he asked in an icily tone, yet he seemed amused. The overwhelming power of the wizard was enough for anyone to tell the truth flat out, but after years of careful dealing with the insane man Severus had learned not to give way under the full force of his presence.

"I was strolling the castle grounds when I came across two prying Gryffindors, Thornback and Michaels. They acted so infuriating that I lost my temper." He ended in an evil grin and Voldemort laughed, or what seemed like a laugh. It was a hollow bark but the smirk on his features told volumes.

"I modified their memories and brought them to the infirmary, tomorrow a rumour will be spread that they were taken ill. I had no time to clean up however and it is also my explanation for my delay." He continued when Voldemort had stopped laughing. Again after this new addition Voldemort snorted loud in amusement as he sat. His expression settled on content when he spoke upon his servant.

"You brought me great entertainment, Severus, but you know I have to respect my own rules and they tell me you still need punishment for your tardiness, but I won't enjoy it as much as usual." He said in high spirits, smirking pleased as the potions master nodded loyally. And Voldermort spoke the Unforgivable curse like it was a common reminder, almost like a stopgap.

"Crucio"

Hermione and Dumbledore walked slowly through the corridors, both having lighted their wands. Hermione looked at her wand, it was made of strong vine wood with a dragon heartstring as core. It still amazed her after all this time how odd it was to rely ones fate and life on a small instrument like a wand. And it still shocked her how much people could get hurt with on swish of it and what grief it could leave behind.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Dumbledore asked interrupting her train of thoughts.

"Can I tell Harry and Ron?" she asked boldly, too exhausted to go over the endless chit-chat the headmaster always seemed to insist on having. He looked at her thoughtful, tilting his head somewhat.

"It wouldn't be wise. You heard what the professor said, if Voldemort gets a hold of that information, Severus will either be punished severely and seen to it he would never take the Wolfsbane potion or worse and he'll get killed." Albus ended softly looking at her with a foreign look. She contemplated this, but Hermione was sure the boys would never do anything that would endanger the man, no matter how much they hated him and she told Dumbledore exactly that.

"Yes that may be so at the moment, miss Granger, but dark times still lay ahead, we cannot takes our chances, it is in fact already bad enough you had to witness this event. Regardless of the feelings you may have about this whole situation or about Severus, this accident must never come to light." He said in a fierce tone she had never heard from the man before. She felt curious about which dark times he was referring to, the war against Voldemort? She was too tired to think about it and decided that she would go through all this new information in the morning. Luckily tomorrow was their last day before the Christmas break.

The pair quietly made their way up the Gryffindor tower and Albus stopped right outside the fat lady.

"Please remember what I said, it is of great importance. But for now," he said suddenly cheering up immensely, "Have a goodnight sleep and a merry Christmas, in case I don't get to see you anymore this coming vacation." he smiled, turned and silently walked away.

"A merry Christmas to you too, sir."

Severus felt every muscle in his body tense to a level where he was sure they would snap. Blood started boiling in his veins. He fell down on his hands and knees and tried to keep as much from making pained cries as possible. Blood started trickling from his nose and mixed itself with sweat.

While every other human being would've fainted with the fresh pain on top of an already injured, exhausted and drugged body, Severus did no such thing. He knew if he would faint now, he would be examined and in all probability killed for lying to the Dark Lord about the bite.

The pain stopped at once, like it had never been there at all and Severus panted still on his knees. Slowly he got, bowed and up walked backwards from his master.

"Now that everyone's present let's begin the meeting." Voldemort said as he stood again and walked around the circle of followers. For the occasion his living room had been cleared of all furniture except for a luxurious armchair for the Lord.

"How are we progressing with the centaurs in the south of Ireland?" he asked a masked Death Eater.

"Meetings have been called off until further notice. They've made it clear they aren't going to take sides, they want nothing to do with the wizard community in any way. This could conclude that they won't side with the Ministry either, but we can't be certain." Severus didn't exactly know who it was underneath the horrid mask until he heard the man's voice. It was Samuel Morrison, one of the youngest among Voldemort's inner circle. He had led a large-scale attack in Wisconsin, with many muggle casualties. As a highly wanted criminal in both the muggle and the wizarding world he was forced to move to England. He lived a while in Ireland as well, which was probably why he had been selected to convince the centaurs there to involve themselves in this war. Like that would ever happen.

"Warn them somehow that if they don't side with us, we'll make sure they don't side with anyone else. Give them a few days then if they haven't given in yet, kill five of them and leave the same message. Continue those steps until they're either willing to side or all dead." Voldemort smirked and a chill ran down Severus spine. He couldn't care less about the centaurs at the moment, but the distorted twist of Voldemort's lips made him nauseating. Luckily there were a few more Death Eaters before it was his turn and Snape closed off his emotions. He listened closely to the cruel things that were spoken of and not missing a word, a sigh or an expression of it. He would need to report it all to Albus.

Slowly Voldemort crept up to him a loathing smile gracing his face, "So Severus, what is Dumbledore up to these days?"

"Nothing much, milord. The old fool is planning his Christmas feast. I asked only this afternoon what he was planning to do with Potter, but he only told me all was fine and that the boy would well looked after until the time came he is assumed ready to face you." He bowed his head slightly. Albus really needed to give something to go on soon, because he had already used the excuse far too many times.

Voldemort's smile fated and was replaced with a snarl. One that actually fitted his disfigured head rather well; it made him look like the devil in person. Snape definitely didn't like the looks of it.

"Bullshit! Crucio!" Voldemort shouted and the burning pain from before returned. Every nerve in his body screamed at him in agony and all he could do was let it wash over him.

"What is fool up to!" he vaguely heard Voldemort yell. Even if he had wanted to say anything he got no chance as he fainted, finally giving up on all hope to survive the evening.

A/N: Oeh cliffhanger… What's going to happen to sevvie-poo? (Bet he'd kill if he'd ever hear me say that again…)

Anyway, chapter two went on quite well, which actually surprised me a bit. Tell me what you thought of it or what you want to see happening next. I haven't completely thought out the story, I can go any way I want mhuhaha!