A/N: Wow. Did I get some awesome reviews last chapter? :) Thank you so much for all the love. I truly enjoy reading all of the amazing feedback you give me, as it helps spur the old creativity (with your asking questions I hadn't even considered before) and make me write faster. That being said, this chapter does contain a brief line of graphic violence at the end so I'm warning you now. Also, hopefully, I don't confuse all of you with the section that has the flashback. I didn't know how to make Severus's Legilimency lines stand out without using boldface and italics. Either way, enjoy.

The Fatal Crow

The loud chirping of various birds outside the Shrieking Shack drew the forty-year-old man out of his restless slumber. With a quiet groan a moment later, Severus rubbed tiredly at his face. He had spent most of the night reading Secrets of the Darkest Arts. More than a few times, he forced himself to take a break, usually whenever he could feel himself start to feel sick to his stomach after reading a particularly horrifying passage.

While he'd freely admit that there were parts of the Dark Arts he enjoyed learning about, this book, however, contained none of those things he enjoyed or had ever really wanted to learn about before. In fact, he was certain that if he had read this book when he had first started to dabble in the Dark Arts in his early teens, he would have likely sworn off the Dark Arts right then and there. The appeal of using Dark Arts to destroy those who would do him harm would never have been so great after reading this soul-poisoning book. He would have been saved. If only.

Closing the heavy leather-bound book soon after, Severus tossed it aside. He grimaced when a cloud of thick dust flew up into the air as a result. This place was in serious need of fixing up. However, he wouldn't be here long. That was if everything went his way.

He removed the black journal that he had pocketed earlier, opening it to the final pages where he had stuffed his notes inside. He couldn't hold back the faint smile when he caught the beautiful cursive etched on the journal's pages. His wife's handwriting was always so elegant and neat. He turned his attention to his notes where he had written all seven Horcruxes and their locations, though.

The first Horcrux was the diary, which was made with Myrtle's murder in the girl's bathroom in 1943, later given to Lucius Malfoy before the events at Godric's Hollow. Then there was Marvolo Gaunt's ring, which was made with Tom Riddle Sr.'s murder in 1943, resided in Gaunt Shack. Salazar Slytherin's locket was made with the murder of a Muggle tramp in 1946, was at a cave but thanks to Regulus's efforts it moved to Grimmauld Place. Helga Hufflepuff cup was made with Hepzibah Smith's murder in 1946, resided in the Lestrange family vault. Then there was Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem, which was made with the murder of an Albanian peasant in 1946, resided in the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts. Harry was next, made with his parents' deaths and his own attempted murder in 1981, but Severus had prevented this Horcrux from being made this time. Finally, there was Nagini, who had been made a Horcrux with Bertha Jorkins's death in 1994 and who was always near her master—but had not been made a Horcrux yet thanks to time travel.

Five Horcruxes. That was all Severus would need to find and destroy this time. Five was manageable in his opinion, especially with all his future knowledge at his disposal. However, knowing where all five of the Horcruxes were and what they were didn't mean that it would be easy. He still had to figure out how to get to them. In some cases this was easy. In others . . .

The hardest ones to reach were going to be the locket, the cup, and the diary. They would take skill and finesse if he were to succeed in reaching those. However, none of that mattered if he didn't find a way to destroy the Horcruxes first.

Knowing that the Dark Lord was incapable of feeling remorse, Severus quickly scratched that off the list as a possible method of destroying Horcruxes. The Sword of Gryffindor hadn't been encased with Basilisk venom yet, so that, too, was out. Not to mention, that unlike Harry and Neville, Severus was far from anything resembling a Gryffindor in the slightest. Now, a Basilisk, though—he knew where to find one of those, and it'd certainly be killing two birds with one stone.

His eyes found the gleaming castle in the far off distance a moment later. It looked so beautiful with the sun shining upon its many towers. None of the current inhabitants knew of the dangers that were lurking in the building. None of them knew the horrors that would occur, the losses, the blood lost. No. They were all likely waking up now, disgustingly excited for the first Quidditch match of the year without a care in the world. It wouldn't be until after the match that everyone at Hogwarts learned of the Potters' deaths at Godric's Hollow, thanks to Dumbledore's brief casting of Anti-Owl charms around the grounds. Order members were the only ones privileged enough to know the truth right away, but even they were forbidden from revealing it to non-Order members until Dumbledore allowed it.

Though, Severus supposed he owed Dumbledore some gratitude since this would all work in his favor now. The students and remaining staff would be gathered outside at the match, leaving the castle practically empty for the most part. He could easily sneak back into the school.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Severus sighed heavily. While Apparating into Hogwarts had worked so far since it seemed the castle somehow recognized that he was/would be a Hogwarts' headmaster, he knew the castle would not permit him to Apparate in anymore after he had attacked Dumbledore in his office earlier and forced the man to witness what his Greater Good cost everyone. Severus had learned quickly after killing Dumbledore on the Astronomy Tower in 1997 that the Founders had included a security measure that made it so any attack on a current headmaster was always taken as an attack on the castle itself, forcing Hogwarts to react and prevent any further assaults. Even after Severus had been named headmaster after the Ministry had been taken, there were still times that the castle was hesitant to allow him to Apparate in and out of it. It wasn't until the Final Battle, where he had nearly died, that the castle allowed him full access to all the powers that came with being a Hogwarts' headmaster.

He laughed shortly as a thought occurred to him just then. How laughable it was now to think that he had to prove himself to a damn castle of all things before he was accepted. The universe clearly enjoyed screwing him over, it seemed.

The dull gleam of his tarnished wedding ring then caught his eye. He quickly looked down at it. His wife was the only person in his life he had never had to prove himself to. She had accepted all of him, the good and the bad, and had stood beside him through it all—even if he didn't know it. A part of him wanted to Disapparate right then and find her younger self and tell her to keep fighting for him. But he knew that he couldn't interfere with that part of his life. She'd be there. Of that he was not worried about in the slightest. She had always been there. He just had been too damn blinded by Lily to see her.

"Sometimes, I swear, Severus, you are the biggest arse on the face of the planet, and yet somehow I still love you. Now, what the hell does that say about me?" his wife's loving voice whispered as a distant memory floated in his mind.

He couldn't stop the laugh from escaping. But when the familiar pain in his heart quickly returned not long after, the laughter died on his lips. He had been with his wife for seven months before . . . The damn universe had only given him seven months of happiness, of love, before it had ripped it all away from him. Seven months. Of course he had known her for more than just seven months, mind you. She had been by his side for twenty-eight years, whether he wanted her to be or not. But it wasn't until after the Final Battle, until that day in St. Mungo's after he had talked with Harry that he finally woke up and saw her, really saw her for the first time and realized how stupid he had been all those years.

"I swear I'll just be a minute. I just need to tell him something. Then I'll leave. I promise," said a male voice somewhere off to Severus's left near the door to his room at St. Mungo's. Severus instantly perked up in his semi-conscious state at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Mister Potter, I'm afraid that's not possible right now," another male voice, an older one this time, added to the mix. The voices sounded muffled, as if something was blocking the sounds. Severus assumed then that this muffled conversation was a result from the door obviously being closed.

"I know. I get it," Potter replied placating. "He probably isn't in the mood for visitors, but I have to talk with him."

Recognizing the panic in the young man's voice immediately, Severus tried to open his eyes to tell the older man to allow the boy in. He managed to get his eyes open just a bit to see blurry outlines of what he assumed was the wall before his eyes closed again. He was just too exhausted unfortunately.

"It's not that he isn't in the mood, Mister Potter," the second voice argued with a heavy sigh. "It's that he already has a—"

The sounds of soft retreating footsteps from Severus's bedside followed by the door creaking open a second later cut the older man off instantly. Severus found himself very confused at this development. Someone had been visiting him already? Who? The boy he could understand, but . . . was it Minerva? No. She likely would have covered his face with a pillow and killed him in his sleep.

"It's all right, Healer Sheppard," a female voice said quietly near the door. "I was just on my way out anyway." There was a short pause before she spoke again. "He's all yours, Harry. Maybe he'll wake up for you." Definitely not Minerva, Severus thought silently.

"Uh, thank you, ma'am," Harry replied, clearly shocked by something.

The door then closed a moment later followed by the sound of heavy footsteps heading towards Severus's bedside. Once more, Severus attempted to pull himself out of the darkness and into the light of alertness. He needed to see the boy, to see if Harry was all right—or rather—physically all right.

"I, um, I don't know if you can hear me, sir," Harry started pathetically.

He badly wanted to tell the young man that he could as he continued his attempt to wake up fully. This semi-consciousness, never awake for more than a few hours a day, was really getting on Severus's nerves. He tried to make a sound, hearing nothing at first before finally a guttural noise escaping his lips. Terrible pain surged through him a second later, informing him that he was being a total idiot attempting to speak after being brutally attacked by a giant snake.

"Okay, I'll take that as a 'Yes,' then," Harry said with an obvious wince. He then gently rested a hesitant hand on Severus's shoulder before he quickly removed it when Severus's eyes flew open and glared at him. "Sorry. I know. You're likely going to hex me for that later."

It was odd to hear the compassion and kindness in the boy's voice, knowing that it was directed at him—the bastard who had made the boy's life hell. It made Severus forget temporarily his annoyance at the boy touching him.

"I, um, I just wanted to thank you, sir. For saving my life, I mean." Harry looked down guiltily. "All those times over the years . . . It couldn't have been easy."

If he could have, Severus would have snorted. 'It couldn't have been easy?' Seriously? That's what the boy gained out of all this? It was no wonder why the boy wasn't a Ravenclaw.

"I can't believe I was so wrong about you. Actually, no, I was wrong about everyone." Harry sighed quietly, running a hand through his long hair. "I thought Dumbledore was, like, the greatest and kindest wizard ever, but he wasn't. He used me. Used a lot of people actually, if we're honest."

Severus groaned inwardly. The boy was going to start rambling. He just knew it. And there he was, forced to listen to the boy's rambling as Harry tried to make sense of everything that had happened. Sure, he protected the boy and tried to give Harry all the tools he'd need in order to survive, but that didn't mean that Severus wanted to be Harry's Mind Healer as well.

"It's ridiculous now if you think about it. Everyone kept telling me that I was wrong about you. I didn't believe them, though. I didn't want to," Harry continued. "You were right, though, sir. I was arrogant. I was so convinced I was right that I didn't even consider that I could be wrong. Not to mention that I did, at one point, enjoy all the attention, just as you said. I quickly learned, though, that fame wasn't everything. And you, our relationship I mean, I-I was so convinced that you were out to get me, that you hated me so much that you wanted me dead. If I had just stopped for a moment . . . If I just thought for a second, I-I could have . . ."

Catching Harry's eyes, Severus concentrated as hard as he could. He felt the familiar warmth fill him as his magic awakened. He may not have been able to speak vocally to the boy, but Legilimency could do just the same in terms of communicating.

"Enough of your incessant babbling," Severus thought, sending it to the boy. If he were a different man, he might have laughed hysterically at the ridiculous face the boy made at hearing Severus's voice inside his head.

"You're in my head!" Harry cried out, clearly shocked.

Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "How observant of you. Now, cease in the ridiculous display of dramatics. They'll do little good here." When he caught Harry's jerky nod, he continued using his Legilimency skills. "I trust that you'll keep everything you saw earlier to yourself, yes?" Again, Harry nodded jerkily, which made Severus relax slightly. At least he wouldn't have to worry about a book deal in the future that told all about how the poor, neglected son of Cokeworth risked everything to protect the son of his childhood bully and lost love. "Your current debasing yourself is not needed nor warranted. Furthermore, I have little need to hear your apologies for things that were beyond your control. So, please, do keep them to yourself or else I will hex you for being the ridiculous child you are. You survived. That is all I need to know, Harry. The rest is frivolous."

"You called me Harry," the young man whispered, staring at him with a strange look.

Oh, but of course that would be the thing the child would get out of that. Severus should have known. Biting back a sigh, he gave Harry an annoyed look. "A slip of the tongue, obviously." He caught the boy's cheeky grin, though, knowing that Harry didn't believe it for an instant. "You've said what you've come to say, so go on already and leave me in peace."

"I haven't said everything, though, sir," Harry argued.

"Perhaps not, but I am intelligent enough to know what is left to say, and I assure you that I have no desire to hear all those disgusting sentiments that you'll spew at me." Harry laughed in response.

"How about just one, then, sir? Please? For old time's sake?"

Severus grimaced in disgust, but said nothing. There was no denying that there was a sort of odd connection between them now, like old comrades sharing battle stories after a long war. Which in a way, they were.

"You truly are the bravest man I ever knew, sir."

The words gave Severus pause for a moment as he stared at the young man. Bravest man the boy ever knew? Well, clearly the boy had forgotten Moody and Remus and a whole handful of others who were more worthy of that title than he was.

"And what, pray tell, do I have to show for any of that so-called bravery on my part, hmm?" He had nothing left. Like it had always been in his life. Though, he wasn't really complaining. He had made his own bed a long time ago, and now he had to lie in it.

"You have me, sir, and the respect and admiration of everyone you saved."

Severus made a face. Respect and admiration? The boy was obviously deluded.

"Not to mention that you've been hailed a hero, sir."

His heart stopped in his throat. What? He stared dumbfounded at the boy. Him, a hero? Nothing he had done was . . . it was all to redeem himself, to make things right, to gain the ever-elusive forgiveness he desperately needed from Lily. No, he wasn't a hero. Not at all. James was a hero, giving his life for his wife and child. Not Severus. "I'm not a hero. I'm just a self-centered, bitter loner."

"Who has a chance to start again now," Harry replied. "Don't take this the wrong way, but, well, it's done now, sir. We won. And, well, I think after everything, my mum wouldn't want you to torture yourself anymore. Everyone tells me how forgiving she was," he shrugged, "so I think if she would have had the chance she would have told you that she forgave you, sir. That she didn't want you to hurt yourself anymore because of a mistake." Harry then sighed quietly. "I know I have no say in the matter, but I know in my heart that you didn't know when you told Voldemort the Prophecy that it'd lead to Mum's death. Only a dunderhead would believe that." Harry gave him a sad look. "I think, sir, it's time you finally forgive yourself and move on. I mean, that's really all you can do at this point, isn't it? You've done everything else short of going back in time and fixing all of it."

Severus had no reply to any of that. Forgive himself? The guilt still tore at him daily. The regrets now started to eat at him as well. He had nothing in his life to show for. If he had died, he had no doubt in his mind that there would have been no one at his funeral. Not even his mother. He had pushed everyone in his life away. It simply had been easier that way.

"If anyone deserves happiness, sir, it's you," Harry declared fiercely. "You've more than earned it. We both know that now." Licking his lips slowly, the young man drew in a slow breath as if to prepare himself for something. "I know you'll think this is disgustingly sentimental and everything else, but when I used one of the Hallows to prepare myself to d-die . . . I was glad to see you weren't there, sir. Because it, it wouldn't have been right." Harry then held up a hand and started to speak faster. "Not because I hated you at that moment. Not at all, sir. I was glad you weren't there, because it made me believe that you had survived, that you lived. That you hadn't been another who had died for me. That you hadn't died without ever experiencing love, real love that you deserved to have in your life. I mean, I-I admit that after I saw your memories, I-I felt so bad for you. I know you hate that, sir. That you don't want anyone's pity, but it's not really pity. I don't know what it is, but it's not that.

"And then later when I went to the office to talk with Dumbledore, when I saw that your portrait wasn't there—it gave me more hope," Harry continued, speaking even faster now as everything poured out of him. "Hermione was the one who told me that a few professors found you in the Shrieking Shack and brought you back. I wanted to see you that day, but you know how Madam Pomfrey is. And then when I came the next day . . . I didn't want to intrude then either. I didn't really want to interrupt today either with you two, but I couldn't wait any longer, sir. I needed to tell you that you had nothing to apologize for. That if it was forgiveness you were so desperately trying to attain, you had it, sir. I mean, I admit I was a stupid boy at times and lashed out, but I'm an idiot. We both know that. You deserve all the happiness in the world. You deserve to have a good life. You deserve it, sir! You've more than earned that good life. And then some." Harry drew in a shaky breath, wiping at his eyes. "And I want you to know, sir, that whatever it takes, whatever you want, I will help you get it. I owe you so much. I know I could never truly repay you for everything you've done for me over the years, but I want you to know that whenever the time comes and you need a favor, no matter what it is, I'll do it. I owe you a lifetime of favors and I intend to repay them all when you ask me to. No matter what it is."

Outside the Shrieking Shack, the birds chirped incessantly louder and louder, pulling Severus out of his memories. For a moment, he considered hexing the damn things just on general principle. Instead, he stood up. There was no time like the present to get started and end this thing once and for all.

Using the secret passage that led back to the castle after drinking an Invisibility potion (since Severus absolutely refused to grab from Dumbledore's office the famous Invisibility Cloak that James had lent Dumbledore before his death), Severus snuck across the vast grounds, feeling the crackling of the wards as he passed through them. He briefly glanced towards the Quidditch pitch, hearing the wild cheers from the gathered crowd, before he turned and headed towards Hagrid's hut.

While he knew he was hidden extremely well from eyesight, he knew that Hagrid's pets, if one could honestly call them that, would smell him in an instant. He had to do this quick and efficient if he were to succeed. As he approached the chicken coop not long after, he slowly withdrew his wand. A stunned rooster would have to do for now.

He glanced around the area one last time, checking for signs of anyone watching before he whispered a soft Muffliato while he pointed his wand at the chicken coop. The sounds of the startled birds instantly vanished from the air. He quickly slid his wand back up his sleeve and pulled out of his front robe pocket a piece of rolled-up leather. Carefully unrolling it a moment later, he pulled out a metal file and a small pick, silently whispering his gratitude to his father for giving him this awhile back. With experience and an inherited natural gift for lock-picking on his side (his father's side obviously), Severus easily picked the lock Hagrid had placed on the chicken coop's door. His eyes quickly passed over the fearful chickens before he flicked his wand and stunned them all. Bending down soon after, he snatched up the nearest rooster and locked the coop back up behind him.

As he rushed up towards the castle, he turned his wrist and undid his spells, leaving a fury of ticked off chickens clucking wildly behind him. A necessary distraction, he decided, just in case anyone had been watching.

Minutes later swooping up the massive grand staircases of Hogwarts, he rushed with stunned rooster in hand towards the girls' lavatory that the poor moping Ravenclaw ghost frequented. He snuck inside, resisting the urge to grimace when he walked through the once again flooded bathroom soon after. Myrtle was in one of those moods again, it seemed. He quickly set off searching the various taps for the engraved snake he had seen in Harry's memories during their failed Occlumency lessons.

"You're not supposed to be in here," Myrtle's haughty voice suddenly announced behind him. "Boys aren't allowed. Don't you know that?"

"I'll only be a second, Myrtle," he replied quietly and politely, refusing to stop for even a moment. The damn entrance to the chamber had to be here somewhere. If only he could find it . . . "And then I'll leave you in peace again. I promise."

"Severus?" Myrtle whispered quietly, adopting a more friendly tone instantly.

"Yes, Myrtle, it's me." He held in his sigh of annoyance. He had befriended the sad ghost long ago during his second year at Hogwarts, and she never ever let him forget it either.

"What are you doing?" she asked curiously, floating closer so he'd be forced to see her. Her eyes briefly darted to the rooster he was holding before they returned to him.

"I'm looking for a tap that has a snake on it," he answered honestly. There was no need to lie to Myrtle after all. She, like all of the ghosts at Hogwarts, was connected with the castle. Hell, at this point he'd bet even the portraits were aware of his presence in the castle again.

"You're planning on doing something dangerous, aren't you?" she accused a moment later.

He couldn't hold back his snort. "Five points to Ravenclaw," he drawled with a faint smile. His eyes then found the tap he had been searching for.

"Whatever killed me came from there," she warned.

"A basilisk," he stated quietly, his eyes focused intently on the snake tap. "It had been released by Tom Riddle so he could make a Horcrux with your murder."

"A Horcrux? What's that?"

Severus pressed his lips together, though. How would he open the chamber now that he found the entrance? He wasn't a Parselmouth. He searched his mind for any clues to how Harry had done it. Closing his eyes a moment later, he attempted to mimic Harry from memory by hissing.

"Well, that's just rude," Myrtle mumbled beside him. However, when a loud mechanical noise then filled the room, he reopened his eyes, watching as the sink lowered to reveal a large pipe. "Is that the . . . ?"

"Chamber of Secrets, yes," Severus replied with a satisfied sigh. So far, everything was going according to plan.

"She's not going to like this. Not at all," Myrtle announced beside him soon after.

He glanced at the Ravenclaw ghost briefly. He had a few guesses to whom 'she' was. "Probably not, Myrtle, but if I do find myself near death down there, then maybe she'll show herself again and stop ignoring me," he stated coolly. He caught Myrtle's confusion instantly, but turned away from her and jumped into the pipe clutching the stunned rooster protectively against himself.

Using his magic, Severus rapidly slowed his descent down the pipe, knowing that if anything happened to the bloody bird in his arms that he'd be screwed royally when he came face-to-face with the basilisk. They reached the bottom not long after, Severus floating them to the floor gracefully. Sparing just the briefest glance at the rooster, he found it to be unharmed. Not taking any more chances, he cast a protective charm around it and set off down the corridor.

Would he finally see the cloud of Hogwarts again, two years after her last appearance? He had no doubt in his mind that was the 'she' Myrtle was referring to after all. The portraits, Myrtle, and all the other ghosts, all of them from his understanding were tied into the cloud of Hogwarts and by extension the castle. It was likely why it was next to impossible to keep a secret at Hogwarts ever. If he were right and he would run across the cloud once more, their encounter had left him only with more questions than answers. Why had it saved some when it could have saved them all? Why hadn't it appeared when he was a student at Hogwarts and had nearly died because of Black's prank? Why hadn't it saved Myrtle for Merlin's sake? Or Cedric? Or taken Harry under its wing and told the boy that all would be right eventually in the world? Why had it let them suffer when it could have helped when they likely all cried out in the cold air for help?

Shaking his head, he finally reached the end of the tunnel. He stared at the two emerald eyed, entwined serpents that were carved into the solid wall in front of him, blocking his path. His eyes glanced down at the rooster before he sighed. Beyond that wall would be the basilisk, the first danger on his journey. It would either go well, which he prayed to Merlin and Circe above was the case, or he'd join his wife and child in the afterlife.

Drawing in a calming breath, Severus released all the tension in his body a moment later. With one hand holding the rooster, he pulled his wand out with the other hand. He didn't feel like playing games anymore.

"Bombarda," he yelled, a jet of light striking the wall soon after. Rubble flew out in all directions, the emerald tinkling to the floor a moment later. He cast the Blasting curse once more, sending thick pieces of rock flying behind him. When he saw that there was no hole still, he hissed in frustration. So much for destructive magic.

When the entwined serpents then started to move suddenly, his eyes widened briefly. Perhaps Harry wasn't the only one with dumb luck sometimes. The wall split apart a moment later and permitted his entrance. He swept into the chamber soon after and stalked down the long tunnel towards the lighted area. His eyes remained trained on the tall statue of Salazar Slytherin, knowing that was where the basilisk lay hibernating inside as it waited for its master's call.

Glancing around the massive chamber a moment later, Severus gently tested the statue with a few minor Blasting curses directed at its base. When he noticed a few pieces crumbling off and felt no rebounding magic, he smirked. So, the great and powerful Voldemort, and even Slytherin himself, never considered for a moment that someone would use Blasting curses. How arrogant of them.

With his wand thrust towards the larger than life statue of the Slytherin founder, Severus snarled, "Bombarda," putting all his power behind his curse. The bright jet of light slammed hard into the stone statue, sending debris flying everywhere. He quickly cast a shield to destroy the pieces that fell near him and the rooster. A moment later, an enormous snake slammed hard onto the ground, sending a wave of water towards him. Severus stood his ground, though, and waited.

The basilisk made no movement. So far so good.

Severus then glanced down at the stunned rooster. It'd like peck the hell out of him if given the chance so a binding spell was clearly in order. He flicked his wand lazily at it, the shimmer of his spell quickly working its way down the rooster's body. He then slid his wand back up into his sleeve and grabbed the bird with both hands, holding it towards the hibernating basilisk in front of them. Saying a quick and silent prayer to himself, Severus steeled himself. Here went nothing.

"Rennervate," he cast, feeling the rooster come alive instantly as he undid his earlier spell. Squeezing the bird around the middle hard and no doubt painfully for the bird, he forced the rooster to crow loudly. Its cry echoed even louder in the massive chamber, nearly deafening Severus. He forced it to crow a few more times for good measure before he Spelled the rooster back asleep.

His eyes then trailed over the large snake, looking for any signs that he had succeeded. He wasn't certain, though, if his eyes were playing tricks on him or not. It seemed to be dead. But snakes were known to be cunning after all. So, slowly, he approached it, his wand drawn once more.

Unable to take the waiting any longer, he slashed his wand violently in the air and cast his trademark curse Sectumsempra at the basilisk, hearing a sickening sound a moment later. At the sight of the basilisk cut in half now, he finally relaxed. He had unfortunately gained an intense fear of snakes, thanks to Nagini's attack on him in the Shrieking Shack two years ago. Wasting no more time, he pried the dead basilisk's mouth open and yanked both of its massive fangs out. Diadem, here he comes.

Next chapter: Younger Snape learns of his father's mysterious past. (Any guesses?)