Dark blood- Answers that bring more questions

Ok so I haven't updated in a long time but life just seemed to get in the way. However I have thought this through now and I am ready to get into it again. Thank you all for your patience.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter- I personally enjoyed doing it though I do know that it may seem a bit long winded but I did try to make it as simple as possible to understand. If you have any questions please ask in a review. And even you dont then please review Anyway because I do want to know what you think.

thankyou and on to the next chapter...:)

The entrance to the shack was exactly the same as it had been before but now Harry's friends stood by him. He took a deep breath and was about to push the door open when Hermione stepped forward and stopped him.

"Harry wait. Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to see him like this again?"

Harry sighed. He had asked himself that question a lot during the past few days and had come to the conclusion that whether he did or didn't, he had to. He had no choice because everything Snape had done was worth so much to him that he needed to at least perform the mans last rites and couldn't let any appearances change that.

"Hermione...it's ok. I want to be able to do this for him. It's the only way I can truly accept what has happened"

Hermione stepped back and the others silently nodded their approval. Harry also nodded and opened the door and stepped in. And he just stared.

This is not how it should be.

He...was right there before.

Oh no. Where the hell is he?

"Guys maybe you should come see this"

"Are you alright mate? What's wro-!" Ron stopped talking and slowly crept next to Harry. He had also noticed and had had the same reaction as Harry.

The area where snape had been was obvious-there was a damp area of blood which was an outline of where he once lay and the stench was overpowering. But the professor was no where to be seen.

"No... I don't...I don't understand" Minerva said as she stood next to Harry and Ron. The whole group entered and stood next to Harry, shocked by the revelation that had occurred. While it was clear Snape had been here before, he certainly wasn't now and now they had absolutely no idea where he could be.

"The ministry...the ministry could have him" Minerva's face was soon traced with lines of tears just as Hagrid's and Hermione's were.

"No that is unlikely-the ministry would have informed me earlier since he is still being searched for" Arthur stated clearly though his voice was laced with pain.

"Harry...are you ok, mate" Ron placed a comforting hand on his friends shoulder. However Harry seemed oblivious. He refused to accept any of this.

"No! We will find him! He can't have disappeared-he must be around here!" Having addressed the others Harry turned and began to look around. The others followed suit though the tension in the air was high.

"So...how is it that you are alive Albus?"

"My Severus, I never did quite realise or appreciate how having a bezoar in hand could be so useful"

"What are you talking about?" Severus scowled. The old wizard was strange but it wasn't like he was deaf or insane (though one could easily make that mistake)

"That bezoar combined with what little healing magic I know was enough to save your life Severus"

"That wasn't the question Albus" Severus deadpanned.

The older wizard sighed. This certainly wasn't going to be easy.

"Severus, you seem to be doing a lot better, how do you feel?"

"I'm fine now can you please answer my question"

"No child"

"What...why?"

"No"

"Tell me"

" No"

"But you must"

"No"

"But Headmaster I need to know!"

"I Said No Severus!"

Snape stopped. Albus rarely took that tone of voice with him and the reason was either one or the other. His mentor was angry with him. Or his mentor was afraid of something.

"Is something the matter headmaster? Is there something wrong?"

Dumbledore stood up and turned to face the fireplace, his back facing Severus.

"There is? Tell me-perhaps I can be of use to you?"

Albus internally cringed at the word "use". Severus was not a thing to be used and it angered him slightly the way his would-be son talked about himself. That was how Voldemort was- demanding that people live to serve him, be of use to him. It was repulsive in many ways, how you were punished for not being useful enough.

"Severus I wouldn't use you"

"But there is something wrong so maybe I can help!"

"No child" he whispered. There was an awkward silence between them before Severus finally spoke.

"Albus...please. Please don't hide something from me now, not when the war had ended and secrecy is no longer needed"

There was no way to ignore that kind of plea. It was true secrecy was no longer needed, but old habits died hard. Still the younger wizard deserved answers. But there was no guarantee that he would like it.

"Severus you may not be able to accept what I have to say"

"I doubt it headmaster there is a serious unlikelihood that I would disapprove of anything you do, no matter how insane or inappropriate"

Albus smirked. Typical Severus. Only he would trust him so much. Well here goes.

"Voldemort wasn't the only one with a horcrux"

"...Albus you don't actually mean..."

"I mean every word I say child"

"But the things you have to do to be able to have one-"

"Are not things I have had to do fortunately. But I did once discover a way to harness part of ones soul and latch it onto something else in order to preserve ones life later. That was a long time ago, however upon news of my impending death by the curse in my hand I decided to look into it and see if I could harness this power once again"

"But...how exactly is that possible?" He knew that Albus was a powerful wizard but this...

"Old magic Severus. Not dark magic but old magic since dark and light are derived from old magic. The use of old magic allowed me to create a horcrux but replicate the part of my soul that was used to make the horcrux."

"I don't understand"

"Imagine this. If you create a normal horcrux you extract a part of yourself that would result in you losing a good part of yourself. So you become more partial to darkness and this is creating a horcrux using a means of dark magic. But if you use old magic, the moment you extract part of your soul, it is immediately replaced by the same good part you lost because upon extraction you duplicate that part of your soul instead of straight away latching the soul onto something else. You see, that way you are still within the side of the light."

"...that is quite impressive"

Albus smiled and his eyes twinkled brightly as he turned and sat down, facing Snape again. He had been worried that Severus would resent him for creating a horcrux like Voldemort, but was relieved to find Severus had listened to him and understood.

"So who aided you in your revival?"

"Family, child. It was family that helped me through and through"

"But if you were alive, then what about the body and everything else? And why did you have to supposedly remain dead? Wouldn't it have been easier that way for Harry to see the memories?"

"Most things were merely a case of complicated charms and spells specific to the user and locked in place. But I had to remain dead because otherwise things wouldn't have gone according to plan. Harry needed to see your memories and had I been alive you would never have gotten the position of headmaster which eventually allowed you to give Harry those memories. That, and various other things. I do hope you forgive me Severus for putting you through that. I did however watch you and I must say, my boy I cannot believe the way you have turned out"

Severus looked down avoiding the eyes of his mentor." I'm...sorry. I know I should have protected the students better and should have done more. I'm so sor-"

Albus quickly put a finger on Severus' lips. "Hush child. I wasn't referring to anything like that. What I meant was that you did more for everyone than I could ever do. Severus, for the past seven years you have been protecting too many people. The order, the students, the teachers, even me have been protected by you in some way or the other especially Harry. What you have done for the boy is something no one could ever do. You are truly the bravest man we have ever met. But enough is enough. It is our turn to protect you now, for you have done more than enough"

Severus turned to stare at the suddenly interesting ceiling, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks, while Albus watched him comfortably. The silence lingered for a few minutes before the potions master yawned quietly and caught Albus' amused expression.

"I think perhaps I have pushed you too much. You should rest for now and tomorrow we will decide on our plan of action. Merlin knows how much rest you've been getting these past few weeks"

TBC;)