Chapter 83: An Old Man's Folly
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Once more Severus S. Snape found himself summoned to The Headmaster's Office and he had not been in an ideal mood. The pressures of keeping up the charade of despising his young wife and ensuring that Potter didn't get himself and every one of his friends killed were mounting to say the least. Snape wanted nothing more than to venture back into the comfort of his quarters and await his wife's return. Sadly he had to fill the old fool in on what the despot was planning as of late. His attempt to gain favor or at the very least avert much suspicion had gone over well with the despot and he wasn't to be subjected to many nights of being tortured in a bid to prove his loyalty. Dumbledore seemed thrilled enough with the results but it was evident that he had something on his mind and that he had been quite keen up until now to keep it hidden from Snape of all people. Fawkes seemed to know and shared a measure of concern that had even been experienced by the various portraits of the previous Headmasters that looked in on Dumbledore from time to time. The escalation of war was just on the horizon and no matter how many moments of peace Snape found with Hermione in the dungeons, war was inevitable within the confines of the rest of the wizarding world.
Snape studied the old man for a few moments, noting any odd details as he stood before his desk not a word passed between them for several moments before Dumbledore met his gaze directly.
"Severus." he began with a rather serious expression filed across his aged face.
"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" replied Snape dutifully despite his suspicion that something was going on behind the scenes.
"It has come to my attention that Lord Voldemort has made plans to ensure my demise." began Dumbledore noting the hiss that escaped Snape's lips at the mention of the despot's name.
"And what do you plan to do about this development?" asked Snape with an arched brow.
"I plan to allow it." replied Dumbledore. "As it turns out...I've rather foolishly hastened my own demise due to the whims of curiosity."
Snape couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What?" he said in annoyance.
It was at that moment that Dumbledore pulled his blackened hand from beneath the desk and showed it to Snape. Two fingers, the pinky and ring finger appeared to be as black as night and quite dead if one were to be frank. Severus Snape had not known what to think in that moment as the shock gave way to outrage and then a barely concealed node of panic.
"How the hell did this happen?" he asked immediately moving toward the desk and drawing his wand to scan the black flesh.
"Would you believe it...a cursed ring once belonging to Tom Riddle was the result of this." replied Dumbledore with something of a smirk.
"There is nothing to smirk about." growled Snape in annoyance. "In case you've forgotten there is a war going on and the first thing you decide to do is give the enemy the victory!?"
"Severus." said Dumbledore attempting to reach his young employee. "Calm down."
"Calm down...you've gone and gotten yourself cursed and you're telling me to CALM DOWN!" growled Snape as his temper began to flare.
"We both know that the dark lord will send the Malfoy boy to murder me...not only as a test of Loyalty on the part of his parents, but on the off chance that he will not succeed." continued Dumbledore. "If you want any chance at saving your Godson's soul...you will have to be the one to end my life."
Snape had been on the verge of storming out as he turned toward the door.
"Don't turn your back on me Severus!" replied Dumbledore in annoyance. "You must be the one, you must ensure the students are safe and after my death you will have earned the complete trust of the dark lord."
"I want no part of this." replied Snape thinking of Hermione in that instant.
"The lives of everyone in this school including Harry Potter, your wife, and your only Godson depend upon you getting passed your stubbornness and seeing this through." warned Dumbledore.
"FUCK YOU OLD MAN!" growled Snape turning to face the dying older wizard. "I don't want to do this."
Dumbledore sighed before meeting the younger wizard's eyes.
"Then all will be lost." he replied before his manner turned stern. "I will not negotiate with you, Severus."
Snape balled his fists and exited the office not in the least caring to be dismissed. Once again Dumbledore had managed to drive him to ruin. The Potions Master made his way down to the dungeons with the half bottle of fire whiskey on his mind.
On one hand, he had been given no real choice in this matter. If he agreed to Kill Dumbledore if only to put the idiotic old fool out of his misery then he would lose everything he had built up until this point. Even Potter's newfound trust in him would be gone. More importantly Hermione's trust in him would be gone and their marriage...if one could even call it that given what Dumbledore had been asking of him would be surely finished. On the other hand, Draco had been his godson and more like a son to him than any other. He had barely begun his young life to have it ripped away due to the despot attempting to punish his father. Lucius Malfoy had been like a brother to him since the day they met. Never once had he turned his back on him no matter the danger. Narcissa had cared a great deal for her only son and had once been the object of Severus Snape's affection in their youth. To imagine her not having Draco...Dumbledore had once again screwed him over. He was to either take Draco's place in ending the old fools life or watch everything crumble as the despot destroyed it. In the process, he'd lose everything just to ensure an end to this war.
Snape knew his choice even before he had made it and found himself sickened by it.