Disclaimer: Same applies as in all the other chapters.

Chapter 9

Snape landed on the floor and changed into a dragon, plowing right through the remaining rocks with his immense strength and ran all the way to the Chamber of Secrets. The air hung heavy with blood, both acidic and metallic, the later making his stomach squirm with worry. He stepped over the dead basilisk and saw Gale in the back against the wall. Her golden life force was pooled all around her and he hesitated a heartbeat before stepping into her blood to reach her body.

"Gale," he called putting his hand to her head. "Gale can you hear me; it's Snape."

Gale's eye opened a mere crack and she managed a barely audible rumble before it fell shut again. Snape was glad for the sign she was still alive, but he knew there was nothing he could really do for her. This feeling was like a terrible pressure in his gut, constricting his heart and tying his throat.

"Gale—I…," even his draconic voice cracked and he had to try again. "There's nothing I can do; there's no cure against the venom."

Though dragons couldn't cry, his voice was heavy with the invisible tears and he settled down close at her side, coiling his tail around her protectively as he listened to her shallow breathing.

"Gale I'm sorry," he said in the softest tone he could muster. "I should have told you how much I love you from the moment I saw you and yet I never did; not once. And now you probably can't even hear me."

The feeling threatened to destroy him as he remembered how he'd felt the first time he had lost his love to the cold hands of death. He couldn't take this again.

"Please don't die," he begged weakly. "You can't; please."

Gale's chest rose with a deep breath that left her in a shudder and then she lay perfectly still. Words couldn't begin to describe the horrible cold that stole over his body, clenching his insides so tight it hurt; threatening to stop his heart as he stiffly sat up. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. Everything was numb.

And then all feeling crashed over him without mercy; fear, hate, rage, emptiness and unimaginable sorrow. His lungs burned as they took in deep breaths and forced it out in quick succession and then his heart just tore open and he let out a long and terrible howl of a cry that ended with a pitiful moan as he laid is head on the floor and covered his face with his claws.

He didn't even realize the bone numbing chill that spread into the whole Chamber until he heard the voice in his head.

"Stand aside wizard."

Snape didn't understand and Kiasa gave him a mental kick, giving him a short stab of pain that raced through his mind.

"I said stand aside!"

Snape lifted his head and saw Kiasa standing at Gale's snout. His red eyes flared brightly and Snape got to his feet.

"She's dead," he snarled at the Nightwalker. "You're too late."

"She may be beyond your reach human, but not mine," he said darkly. "Now stand aside or loose her for good!"

Snape didn't dare to hope, but did as told and backed away as the Chamber seemed to fall into deeper darkness.

"Now bare witness to true power," said Kiasa as he laid both hands on Gale.

At first it was a low hum that grew to become the angry crackling of immense magic power in the air. Snape watched as a large mystic circle of burning blue surrounded Gale and the Nightwalker, runes of unimaginable age appearing within. Kiasa's ritual was to all ears without words as his mind alone repeated the alien chanting over and over. The Nightwalker began to glow a deep violet and placed both hands on Gale, her body too taking on the shimmer. All around them the runes, like chains, crept along the floor to slide onto their bodies and then everything caught fire. The blaze was so intense Snape had to lift his wing in front of his face for protection. When the blue fire died down all that remained was her human form, the runes on her body shimmering like embers before they too disappeared, a silver mist descending onto her to form a long gown. There was no sign of Kiasa in the now silent Chamber of Secrets and Snape carefully approached and was rewarded with her eyes slowly opening.

"Y—you're alive," breathed Snape. "You're really alive."

Gale only managed a small smile before her eyes fell shut again. But she kept on breathing; she was truly alive. Snape reverently took her up in one strong arm and held her close to his chest for a lingering moment, walking away from the Chamber on three limbs afterwards. At the entrance he looked back one more time and gave silent thanks to Kiasa. He didn't understand how he'd done it, but alive or dead, he had his unending gratitude.

Once out of the large pipe, Snape turned back to human and shifted her weight in his arms to carry her all the way to the infirmary. When he arrived the beds were empty and Madam Pomfrey finished changing the last bed.

"Professor!" she gaped. "Who's that?"

Snape ignored her long enough to place Gale on a bed in the farthest corner and pull up the screens.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Miss Glider needs to rest," he said granting her that bit of information. "Yes, she's really an adult," he added at her quizzical look. "I trust the mandrake juice worked then?"

"Y—yes, all of the students were revived," she said. "Everyone's in the Great Hall and Dumbledore is back as well!"

"Keep watch over her until I return," he said heading to the door.

"Of course I will," huffed Madam Pomfrey.

….

As much as he hated being away from Gale right now, he knew it would look odd if he had stayed and so silently sat at the teacher's table as the students celebrated in their pajamas. He couldn't eat or drink and he listlessly stared at his empty plate, trying his damnedest to keep his emotions under control. He still looked horrible.

"Severus, may I have a word with you?" asked Dumbledore behind his chair.

In response the dark Professor rose to his feet and followed the Headmaster out of the Great Hall. McGonagall's office wasn't far and he gestured him inside, before following, lighting her fireplace. There they took a seat half facing each other.

"Harry told me everything that happened," said Dumbledore. "Miss Glider's disappearance so close after Miss Weasley's prompted him to suspect her, something he regretted terribly after she aided him in the Chamber."

"I don't really care," said Snape quietly as he sat leaning forward, his eyes on the dancing flames.

"But I do know you care a great deal about Gale, Severus," said Dumbledore softly. "And I know you'd much rather be with her than at the feast, but I wanted to talk to you about it first."

Snape had stiffened a little and regarded the Headmaster.

"How long have you known?" he asked.

"Since your return from the involuntary trip to the mountains," said Dumbledore. "You've done an excellent job at hiding it, but there were unmistakable moments I could see it in your eyes. And I think the entire school heard you tonight even if no one realizes it was you. If you could see yourself in a mirror right now you'd agree."

Snape turned away and tightly folded his hands between his knees.

"She was dead," he said barely audible. "It was Lily all over again. If it hadn't been for Kiasa…"

That had done it and he could no longer hold back the tears; they stubbornly ran down his cheeks as he closed his eyes.

"Don't be ashamed Severus," said Dumbledore softly. "You'll feel much better if you let yourself go. Let all the anger and fear drain out; Gale's alive."

"I love Gale as much as I love Lily," he said shaking from the sobs he tried to suppress. "Seeing her breath come to an end—I couldn't—not again—"

And this time he really did let himself go, gripping the side of his head with both hands as he tried desperately to control his breathing, hot tears falling to the floor like rain.

Dumbledore let him be and watched the flickering of the flames as Snape slowly regained his composure.

"Why didn't you suspend me," he asked after a while when he trusted his voice again.

"I thought about it," admitted Dumbledore. "But her case is a rather unorthodox; she's not a child and I decided to do a little test instead."

Snape wiped the rest of the remaining tears from his face and looked up.

"What test?"

"I had Miss Glider let her grade's slip," he said. "I wanted to see if you were still doing your job with her and I was delighted to find that you were unbiased and very professional."

"I'm always professional!" snapped Snape. "Otherwise Potter, Weasley and Longbottom would have a T in every exam!"

Dumbledore laughed heartily to that and even Snape lightened up a little.

"But seriously, you even threatened to rethink your position about taking her as an apprentice and I'm proud of you," said Dumbledore.

"Did you just give me your blessings?" asked Snape sarcastically.

Dumbledore just shrugged.

"Send Madam Pomfrey down when you visit her would you," he smiled. "I daresay she'd enjoy a little celebrating as well."

Snape got to his feet and was halfway out when he turned back.

"I know Severus, I know."

Snape gave him a small grateful smile and left.

……

I hope I didn't go overboard with Snape's OOCness, but I had to do it for the story. I tried putting my personal experience into words for how Snape felt after Gale died… I think I failed miserably tho. Hope you enjoyed anyway.

Later Days, Imako the Demon Wolf.