Chapter 5: Between Light And Shadow

{A/N: Here's Another Update...}

My Thanks To All My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy S.S.

The Battlements,Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

A light rain blanketed Hogwarts as Severus Snape stood atop the battlements. The light gray sky loomed above with swollen clouds shifting and expanding, The small droplets seeped into the ground as well as his ebony attire, the small breeze blowing his lengthy raven hair and billowing black robes with ease. The Potions Master's obsidian eyes were fixed on the swelling sea as it beat against the raised cliff side near the boat house. His heart had been burdened with the guilt of his past crimes, as well as the inevitable one he would commit for the sake of winning this damned war. The thick scent of salty sea air had done little to quell the knots in his stomach, but thanks to Granger's efforts he had gotten at least one night's sleep without the constant breaking of night terrors. Despite his knees giving the impression that they wanted to buckle and he to cave to the stone floor below him, he stood accepting of his grim future.

There would be no thanks for his sacrifice. No medals for bravery. No cheers for delivering the final decisive blow to the much hated enemy. Once this was done, he would become the enemy. Perhaps that had been his lot in life and no matter how many times he tried to avoid it, it would always be so.

A girl he had known so long ago came to mind. Her emerald green eyes not so unlike her young son's as she ran about the open field back in Cokeworth. The only good thing to ever have come out of that place since the mill's closing shortly after his birth, Lily had been gone nearly fourteen years now. Her sweet smile seeming to be the only thing in this horrid world keeping him on this path despite it's intent to punish him for his very existence.

The image of his late mother also came rushing back, her same raven hair and obsidian eyes. The weathered look that had often been plastered across her own sallow pale face. As a child he had not known why she never seemed to smile much, not that they had any reason to smile being as impoverished as they were and often hungry, but she didn't seem to have any joy in her life. He imagined it was due to her being duty bound and in that a kind of slavery most unspoken of.

She was the wife of a brutal drunkard and the mother to a weak little run whose best answer for his problems was to cower in the darkness and cry like a infant. The pain she endured night after night an after thought when it came to the bigger picture. He recalled seeing her have difficulty standing one afternoon and he had attempted to aid her, only to be struck across the face for showing a proud woman such pity.

In a way he had been most like her. Growing to despite pity of any kind and weary of admiration. Eileen did not coddle him as most might have thought and she did not speak softly, her words were as sharp as daggers and her intent was to inflict as much pain as possible if only to toughen her son up in a bid to show him the ways of the world.

Some people were born never knowing cruelty until fate intervened and shook them to their very core. The Snapes were born and bred in it's very soil. He had not actively sought to invoke the wrath of those around him, not even when he was a child. He had simply learned to give as good as he had gotten.

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The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Hermione ate rather sparingly as her amber eyes drifted up to the staff table for the fifth time that morning. She had not seen Professor Snape as of late and wondered if her efforts had enabled him to make any progress concerning his mysterious condition. She knew her skill had been in no way compared to his own when brewing but she had at least hoped he'd make an appearance even if he had not been able to digest anything. All around her, her friends had been chatting rather casually as if there had been not one care in the world aside from Voldemort that was but it was difficult to see the realities of a grim war when one was protected via a safe haven and powerful wizards like Snape and Dumbledore.

"Are you okay Mione?" asked Harry taking immediate notice of his friend's lack of appetite.

Startled, the bushy haired witch blinked her thoughts clear and noted the green eyes of her friend studying her intensely.

"I...Yes Harry, I am quite alright." she said nervously.

"Are you sure?" asked Harry. "Ron's been on about Quidditch and stuffing his face constantly with his mouth open and you haven't said a word."

Hermione took a moment to note that Ron had indeed been behaving like a revolting pig and it successfully turned her stomach. She had barely wanted to eat to begin with given Snape's antics the previous night and now he had just ruined any hopes of keeping down a couple of bites of toast. With a sigh, the amber eyed witch turned her attention back to the staff table.

"It doesn't look like Snape's in this morning." said Ron openly chewing on a piece of bacon.

"Yeah." agreed Harry with a small smile. "With any luck he'll cancel potions class."

Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes at their childish behavior concerning the ailing man. They had not known how much trouble he had been having as of late and she promised both him and Dumbledore to keep everything between them a secret. Feeling there wasn't much need for her to linger in the Great Hall any more than she had to, Hermione gathered her things and took her leave of her friends with the story she had been headed for the library to keep them off her trail as she went. It wasn't long before the amber eyes of Hermione Granger caught sight of the Potions Master making his way toward his office through the same empty corridor she had taken. Curious as to how he was feeling and knowing all too well that he would only speak of his condition if at all in private, she followed him.

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Snape's Office, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Snape had been exhausted from his meeting with Narissa Malfoy and her deranged sister Bellatrix. Lucius' imprisonment at the hands of the Ministry of Magic had always been something to worry about given the nature of this war but with the dark lord residing at Malfoy Manor and the increased tensions in the ranks, it had become more imperative that he made himself appear useful to the despot. His lack of participation in much of their operations had been less than favorable and sighting his need to stay on Dumbledore's "good side" to do his job effectively was wearing thin due to insinuations by the likes of Bellatrix.

He had received quite the round of torture as a result of the dark lord's apparent frustration with his lack of progress. No sooner had he escaped the Manor in a bid to heal himself from the worst of the pain, the Black sisters decided to show up. Narcissa begged him to save her only child and of course Bellatrix being the deranged bitch that she always has to be goaded him into taking an unbreakable vow in a bid to prove that he was a coward before her sister.

He took the vow, no easy feat of course but he knew it would eventually kill him if he did not kill the old man in Draco's place. A task that was placed before him prior to this unnecessary meeting. The Potions Professor had classes scheduled for the late afternoon and he had not been looking forward to seeing the faces of the golden trio, especially Hermione Granger given his antics the previous night.

As if cursed by nothing but misfortune as of late, Hermione Granger is exactly who walked into his office sealing the door and casting quick wards as she turned to face him. She appeared to want to talk and Snape had been in no mood for socializing...time was growing short and he was given less than a day to do what Dumbledore had instructed him to do.

"Might I ask why you deem it necessary for me to have to endure your presence Miss Granger?" he asked rubbing his face with a weary hand.

"I just wanted to check on you sir." replied Hermione studying him closely. "You weren't at breakfast and...you look quite tired."

"Not that it's any business of yours but I was out this morning." replied Snape bitterly. "And looks can often be deceiving."

"Did you sleep well last night sir?" she asked hopeful that her mediocre skill with potion-making in comparison with his own at least helped him a little.

"Very well." replied Snape not entirely sure he wished to compliment her. "As you can see Miss Granger your assistance is no longer required."

Hermione nodded.

He did seem to be doing much better but there still seemed to be something weighing heavily on him.

"If you need help with anything else just let me know." she said trying to be helpful.

"When pigs fly Miss Granger." said Snape turning his attention to the parchment on his desk.

It had been a note from Dumbledore. He had given Snape instructions on how to conduct himself while he had been away and that he was taking Harry Potter off the school grounds. The Potions Master didn't know what this had all been about, and he didn't want to know. He had enough to worry about.

Let the old sod worry over the stupid boy's antics for a change.

Snape noticed that Hermione has still been standing at his desk studying him.

"What are you still doing here Miss Granger?" he asked annoyed.

"Good news?" she asked noticing to the note in his rather steady pale hands.

Snape rolled his eyes. Teenagers were always so nosy.

"Yes, as a matter of fact." he replied. "I've just been informed by the Headmaster that I have a Potter free evening."

Hermione shook her head. Apparently, Snape had been doing better if he was back to snide comments about Harry.

"Well it seems you're back to being your usual snarky self." she said. "I'll see you in class then Professor."

Snape waved rather dismissively at the annoying girl and turned his attention back to his desk. Apparently, his time had become shorter than what he anticipated if Dumbledore would openly risk taking Harry Potter off the grounds this soon. Hermione went about her merry little way, leaving the older wizard to ponder his next course of action.