A/N: As always, text in italics indicates a flashback.
That night, Severus slept very little. He had contentedly lived alone for sixteen years, and suddenly, a couple months of sharing his bed with another had changed all of that. He had decided to have breakfast before he reported to Dumbledore so he showered, dressed, and left for the Great Hall.
He understood that Katrina was probably still angry with him, so he didn't bother to seek her out. He entered the Great Hall just as his wife was leaving. She barely glanced at him and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Not now, Severus," she snapped, moving quickly past him and out of the Hall.
He took a deep breath and let her go. He was thankful that the only person in the room was Minerva. He wouldn't have wanted even that small scene to have been seen by anyone else.
He continued on to the staff table and sighed as he took a seat across from Minerva.
"Good morning, Severus," McGonagall said, filling a cup with tea for him.
He grunted in response and angrily grabbed a scone from a plate in front of him.
"Or," she said thoughtfully, "perhaps it isn't."
"I'm not going to discuss it," he said sharply.
"Of course you won't," she said easily, "but if it is because of something you did, I suggest you apologize." She wiped her mouth with her napkin and smoothly rose. Glancing down at him, she continued, "I happen to know that Katrina has a weakness for Honeydukes chocolate…" With that, the meddling woman left the Hall.
Severus glanced at his barely-touched scone and decided he wasn't really hungry. He quickly downed his tea before leaving and heading for the Headmaster's office. Scowling, he gave the password to the gargoyle that moved out of his way.
Ascending the staircase, he pushed the fight with Katrina to the back of his mind. Right now, he had to face telling his mentor that their worst fears were real. The door at the top of the stairs was open and he glanced through, catching a glimpse of Albus working on a stack of paperwork.
In the moments before Albus looked up, Severus remembered other times he had come into this office…
"Headmaster, you wanted to see me?" A prefect had entered Severus' fifth year Charms class and told him the Headmaster wanted to see him.
"Have a seat, Severus," Dumbledore said, gesturing to one of the plush chairs before his desk. The old man came around his desk and placed a hand on the now-seated boy's shoulder. "I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, but your mother has died."
The boy choked back a sob, "How?"
"Your father said it was a robbery… They took her to a Muggle hospital, but there was nothing they could do. I'm so sorry, my boy."
The boy's features became stony, "He killed her."
"Now, Severus," Dumbledore began.
The boy rose and turned to leave. "No, he killed her. Thank you for telling me, Headmaster." With that, the boy returned to his class.
"Ah, Mr. Snape. What can I do for you?" an older Dumbledore asked, not looking surprised to see his former student.
"I… I have made a grave error, Dumbledore," the man said haltingly.
"Please, have a seat."
The man paced back and forth before the desk, ignoring the offered chair. Finally, he came to a halt. He moved around the desk and fell to one knee before the Headmaster. Silently, he unbuttoned his sleeve and pushed it up, revealing the Dark Mark. He glanced up, seeing the sorrow in the old man's eyes.
Dumbledore stood and placed his hands on Severus' arms, "Stand up and go sit in a chair." He waited until the younger man did so before he continued, "Now, why is it that you are here?"
The young man took a deep breath, "Lord Voldemort wishes me to seek the Defense Against the Dark Arts position here so that I may spy on you."
"I was wondering how long it would take before he tried to send a spy into my school…" Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "What I wonder now, Severus, is why have you shown me your mark?"
"Katrina is gone! Did you know that?"
Dumbledore nodded sadly, "I'm sorry, Severus, but she has left this world."
The young man's eyes filled with tears before he angrily dashed them away. "I have lost everything, Headmaster, everything. To join his circle, I was forced to kill my own father. My wife is gone. I have nothing…"
"I am sorry, my boy, but I am not sure I know what you are asking of me," Dumbledore said gently.
"It was foolish of me to come here," Severus said, rising. "Will you give me the Defense position?"
"No, Severus," Dumbledore said, "But I do have a position as Potions Professor that is also open. As I recall, you were more gifted in potions than in defense."
"You would offer that to me?"
"Yes, Severus," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Am I correct in assuming that you wish to leave Voldemort's employ?"
"Yes, you are correct," Severus said adamantly.
"Hmm, I will make you an offer, Severus. You will spy on Voldemort for me, and I will offer you my protection. You realize that he will someday be defeated and when he is, that that mark will condemn you, do you not? I will do everything in my power to protect you from that fate."
The young man pondered the offer for a long minute before nodding. He accepted the Headmaster's outstretched hand and was only mildly surprised when he was pulled into a hug.
"I am so proud of you, Severus," Dumbledore whispered to him.
The third memory again took place in the Headmaster's office. It was only three months after Severus had been hired in secret and conscripted to spy for Dumbledore. He had been instructed to 'spy' on the Headmaster and in the course of that, he had overheard Sibyll Trelawney's prophecy about the one who would be born who could defeat the Dark Lord.
Once Trelawney had been hired by Dumbledore and dismissed, the two men discussed what portion of the prophecy could be fed to Voldemort. Severus had done as Albus had instructed and fed his 'master' the first part of the prophecy.
"Albus!" Severus cried as he burst into the office of his mentor. "Voldemort has decided to kill the two children he believes fit the prophecy. The Potters and Longbottoms need to be warned!"
"He will make his move tonight?" Albus asked, moving to the fireplace and preparing to call the Order of the Phoenix.
"Yes, he is going to the Potters' personally. He has somehow found their location. He is sending Death Eaters to the Longbottoms'." He gasped as the Mark flared. "I must go, Albus, he is calling me."
"Be careful, my boy," Albus said before Severus left.
"Come in, Severus."
Coming back to the present with the sound of his name, Snape entered the office and slumped into one of the chairs before Albus' desk.
"You look like you've hardly slept," Albus observed, conjuring a teapot and pouring cups for both of them.
Severus accepted the cup and merely inhaled the steam for a moment before looking up. "There was a dinner party last evening."
"Did Katrina accompany you?"
"Yes," it came out as a sigh. "I take it you have seen her this morning?"
Albus nodded, sipping at his ridiculously sweet tea, "Yes, although I doubt a domestic dispute would have you here talking to me."
"You are right. No, I am here to make a report. The Dark Lord kept his inner circle with him after dinner ended. He made us privy to certain facts…" He downed his tea in a single swallow. "The Dark Lord has taken a pet of his own. She's young and, rumor has it, a graduate of Durmstrang. She has also apparently been a victim of the same treatment as the Longbottoms. Most importantly, though, is that the girl is pregnant."
"Do you believe the child would be in danger?" Albus asked, the twinkle thankfully absent from his eyes.
"Immediate danger? No. I believe the Dark Lord truly is trying to secure future followers for himself. I received the impression that he is content for me to retain my sons, at least for the time being. I do not doubt that he will demand them at some future time, though."
"All the more reason to deal with him quickly then." Albus responded.
Severus held his cup out for more tea. "There is more, Albus."
"There always seems to be, doesn't there?" Dumbledore asked ruefully.
"Bellatrix is training Draco Malfoy."
"You told me that already, Severus. You said the boy had been trained to Occlude his mind."
"He is being taught the Unforgivables, Albus. He… he has also been charged with the task of… of killing you." He placed his still-full cup on the edge of the desk and stood. He paced for a moment before stopping and facing the Headmaster, "And I… I have vowed to help him!" His voice was full of self-loathing.
"Sit down, Severus," Albus said calmly. "We suspected all of this before. We will deal with it when it becomes necessary." He smiled slightly and gestured to Severus' teacup, "Now, tell me about your argument with Katrina."
Mentally screaming about barmy old men, he picked up his cup. He knew Albus quite well now, and when the old man didn't want to discuss something, no amount of ranting and raving would change that. "I abused the master/slave bond again. I didn't want her to hear what was being said by the inner circle, nor would the Dark Lord have wanted her conscious to hear it. I put her to sleep and when I woke her up, I kept her calm and silent until we reached my quarters. I didn't want any of my Slytherins to hear my 'pet' screaming at me."
"Did you try to explain to her why you did it, Severus?"
"She wouldn't let me explain. She simply began throwing things!"
"I would give her some time to cool off, Severus. You may also want to consider getting her some flowers."
Severus sighed and silently finished his tea. It seemed that everyone was determined to invade his personal life.
It got even worse when he brought some potions to restock the Hospital Wing. Pomfrey had seen Katrina at breakfast and deduced that there was "trouble in paradise' as she put it. Her suggestion was jewelry.
Later, he had gone to the Greenhouses to restock some of his classroom supplies and he had encountered Hagrid. The half-giant had seen Katrina walking alone on the grounds. He had suggested that Severus buy his wife a pet, 'I'm sure she'd love a cuddly baby griffon'. Severus had shuddered and concluded his business quickly.
Professor Sprout, having heard the one-sided conversation with Hagrid, had suggested that he purchase a plant for Katrina. He somehow doubted that his wife would especially like a potted Devil's Snare, what with two babies on the way. Two babies who would soon be crawling toddlers.
Finally relenting to the pressure from his coworkers, as well as his own guilt, he found himself on the path to Hogsmeade.