Change The Fate: The Fallen Angel Arise

By TheUndefeatable

Disclaimer: The only thing here which is mine is the plot and the original characters!

Rate: Rated T just to be safe
Summary: There is always a light in the middle of darkness, you just must be brave enough to see it and to embrace it! Then, you will see that you don't need to take the burden all by yourself; you see that you are not alone. A sequel to 'Face The World Alone: Tale Of A Fallen Angel'
Warning: Mention of child abuse and attempt suicide, some violence and bloodshed in later chapters, but not any thing explicit! Don't like it, don't read it!
A/N: Hello every one! So it is one of my fastest updates and you have the characters to thank for that! ;P I hope you enjoy, let me know what you think!

Edited May 2019.

She got up, went beside the bed, put a hand on Severus' shoulder, and said, "Take a rest, Severus. I'll talk to headmaster and if he accepts your condition then we will come back here. But only when you have rested some and then you'll sign the guardianship forms and we'll bind you and the headmaster in the vow, but for now try to get some sleep."

She patted Severus' shoulder and with that she left the teenager and went to Headmaster's Office.

Chapter 8: Taking the First Steps

When Rosaline reached there she noticed that Minerva McGonagall had joined the other two and they were talking over tea and biscuits.

When she entered they all looked at her. She took her time closing the door and coming to stand behind one of the chairs in front of headmaster desk.

"Did Severus accept?" Poppy asked. Instead of answering her, Rosaline said to Dumbledore, "I want to know what happened at the end of last year."

"Nothing that is more important than the matter at hand," Dumbledore said dismissively, trying to bring back the conversation to Poppy's question.

"I believe it is as important as the matter at hand," Rosaline said sharply. "You really want to help Severus, Headmaster? If yes, then you can start by telling me what happened at the end of last year."

"Why do you want to know?" Dumbledore asked.

"Because I want to know what has transpired in this school that a student needs the reassurance of an Unbreakable Vow to grant their Headmaster permission to take care of them!"

"What?" Minerva asked.

"That's Severus' condition for accepting Mr. Dumbledore's guardianship. He believes that you will abuse the power you will have over him, and I want to know why."

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. It contains rather sensitive information about another student and it is not my place to disclose it," Dumbledore said diplomatically.

"I don't need any details about that student only as much as is needed to explain the situation. Also, I work in the Children's Support Services Department. My main cases are abused children. I think I can handle sensitive information just fine."

Dumbledore wanted to object more, but Poppy and Minerva's narrowed eyes stopped him. He might be able to dodge one of them, but three of them? No, he couldn't do it.

He sighed and said "It is a rather long story so please take a seat." He gestured to the empty seat which Rosaline was standing behind. When she sat down he started. "I think you are aware of my efforts in trying to get better living situations for Dark Creatures and to grant them legal standing equal to that of humans?"

A sense of foreboding filled the three woman; Rosaline because she had no idea where Dumbledore was going with this and Poppy and Minerva because they had some idea where this was going.

Rosaline nodded and Dumbledore continued. "Well, one of the objections that Ministry presented was that there was no way they could be integrated into our society. But I thought it was possible, if they would be allowed from childhood to enter society; especially werewolves because except one day per month, they are human and are no danger to anyone. Therefore, after much deliberation I decided to enroll one werewolf in Hogwarts."

Rosaline gasped, her eyes wide and said, "What? How could you bring a Dark Creature to a place full of children!"

Dumbledore raised his hand and motioned for her to wait. "Please, let me finish. I took all precautions needed. I chose one who was bitten at very young age as those who are bitten young usually come to terms with it better. I chose the Shrieking Shack as the location for his transformation. It is far enough from the school for no one to go there. But I did not stop there, I also spread rumors about it being haunted and I planted Whomping Willow at its entrance so no one could get in. In all the years that he has been in school there have been no accidents."

"What about end of last year?" Rosaline asked.

"This student has managed to find himself some very good and supportive friends and since their first year a schoolyard feud had started between them and Severus." Dumbledore was trying to concentrate on his words and to choose the best way to explain the situation, but Poppy and Minerva's pale faces made it rather hard. It seemed that they caught on rather quickly to his situation. "It came to my attention that one of his said friends thought it would be a good scare if he told Severus to go to the Shrieking Shack on a full moon." Rosaline opened her mouth to say something, but Dumbledore motioned her to wait.

"None of his friends, including the student who is a werewolf, were aware of this. Nothing bad happened as when one of their more sensible friends heard about it, he went to Shrieking Shack, and got Severus out before anything happened."

When Dumbledore finished, there was a moment of silence before Poppy asked, "What?"

"Those boys! Not only could Severus have been killed, but also Remus would have been killed by the Ministry! How could they be so stupid? How could they do this to Severus let alone Remus who is their friend! I'll give them so much detention for this that they will not have one free minute outside of classes and homework." Minerva said hotly.

"There is no need for that Minerva, I have already dealt with this matter," Dumbledore said trying to calm Minerva.

"And how exactly have you dealt with it?" Rosaline asked her eyes narrowed.

"I gave the one responsible three week of detention and deducted some points from his house," Dumbledore said calmly like it was the most obvious and sensible way to deal with the matter.

"What? Only three week? And what about others?" Rosaline asked.

"Others? Nothing. Remus was as much a victim as Severus and James showed courage by going after Severus and getting him out."

"WHAT? There has been an attempt on the life of a student and this is how you dealt with it?" Rosaline asked outraged.

"I think you are exaggerating. It was only a childish, harmless, prank. Thoughtlessness on Sirius' part. Look at it for what it is!"

"Severus could have been maimed, turned, or even killed and you call it harmless prank?" This time it was Poppy who questioned him.

"Wait a minute, James? Sirius? We are talking about Doreen's boy and his friend? Am I right to assume that you didn't even inform their parents of the events?"

"I did not see any reason to inform their parents for a simple prank."

"Simple prank? So for an attempted murder you just gave three week of detention to the murderer, to his friend who got cold feet at the last minute or just found out that his friend had planned a murder and went to save his other friend from becoming an involuntary murderer, you did what? A pat on the back and a well done?" Rosaline said. She was angry and could not believe what she was hearing.

"No, I deemed it fit to reward him with some points for the bravery he showed in saving a classmate," Dumbledore said with his head held high and his jaw set.

At this point Rosaline was standing with her hands fisted at her side. Poppy and Minerva were not far behind.

"ALBUS!" Minerva nearly shouted in frustration. And Rosaline snorted antagonistically, but then asked, "What about this Remus boy?"

"I told you Remus was unaware of everything! He would never do something like that. He is always afraid that he might hurt or even worse, turn someone!"

"Well, obviously not enough to not disclose things like how to get past the Whomping Willow which was planted there so no one could get in," She said the last part sarcastically. "He gave away the information knowing full well he might endanger his friends! And he should be punished for that. After all he knows better than anyone if he turns someone what they have to go through!"

Dumbledore knew Rosaline had a point, but he also knew how acceptance is important for teenagers and so it would be very hard to not give in to the pressure that your friends or peers put on you. He was thinking about how to explain this and whether explaining will help at all. So far, it seemed the more he tried to explain the situation the less his audience understood his points. Poppy's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Wait! Why you didn't send Severus and James to the healing ward, so I could look them over?" Poppy asked with narrowed eyes.

"They were fine, Poppy! James said he stopped Severus and brought him back before he reached Remus!"

"And what did Severus say ...oh right! You didn't ask his side of story," Rosaline said rather coldly. "And here I was telling Severus to look past this misunderstanding!" It was then that she remembered something that Severus said in their conversation. "And what did you tell Severus? He told me he can't tell me what happened."

Dumbledore sighed and said. "I swore him to secrecy."

"You did what?" Minerva said outraged.

"And if he were to reveal this information what would have become of him?" Rosaline asked with barely controlled rage. Some of the vows and oaths whether fulfilled or unfulfilled, could be dangerous to teenagers as their bodies, their minds, and their magic has not matured; especially their magic.

"Nothing of the sort you are thinking. I just threatened him with expulsion."

"Great! Not only those who tried to kill him got away with a slap on their wrists, but also he was swore to secrecy under a threat of expulsion so he could not speak about something that might have been traumatizing for him with anyone or he would be expelled which not only causes him to lose any opportunity to create a future for himself, but also forces him to return to his abusive father! Really great! You were right; it was nothing of the sort I thought! It was worse!"

"Nothing happened which might have been traumatizing for him!" It seemed that from all the things that Rosaline said he'd just heard that part.

"You wouldn't know, because you never asked him!"

"James said –" Dumbledore started to say, but Rosaline cut him off. "James is a child, not a saint! And I have seen enough times how he lies through his teeth! Do you think, if he and the others were in on the plan he would have told you? You really think if something bad had happened there, he would not have lied to you to save his friend?"

"How could you do this, Albus?" Minerva said angrily.

"You must understand. Severus was very angry ..." Dumbledore began.

"As he should be!" Minerva said. Dumbledore ignored her.

"And I was afraid he would tell his friends about Remus' condition. It was the matter of Remus' future"

"It was a matter of Severus' life as well! Are you saying his life has less worth than Remus' future?" Poppy asked angrily. Before Dumbledore could come up with an answer to that, Minerva said.

"You could have at least punished Sirius more severely, showing Severus that you are taking this incident seriously and that you care about his life!"

"If I had punished him any more severely, others would have been curious to know the reason and they might have found out about Remus' condition. Also you, better than anyone, know about Sirius' home life and the conditions in which he grew up. I thought being too hard on him might alienate him. He needs all the support he can get."

"It seems, Headmaster, that you care about everyone's futures and needs except Severus'. Or maybe it is the matter of the House of Gryffindor versus the House of Slytherin," Rosaline said with disgust.

It seemed that she hit a nerve with that statement as Dumbledore's eyes flashed in anger. He stood up behind his desk and leaned forward with his hands on the desk. In that moment he had the bearing of the Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, the man who defeated Grindelwald. There was no trace of the grandfatherly headmaster that so many knew.

"I do care about all of my student regardless of their houses. I'll help and protect all of them, but if they deliberately put themselves in danger you cannot expect me to be there every time to save them," Dumbeldore said.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Rosaline leaned forward as well with narrowed eyes.

"If Severus was not out of his dormitory after curfew this would never have happened."

"So now it is Severus' fault! Of course, it is! I am sure, it always has been his fault! As you said in hospital wing, you only punished him for the trouble he got himself into! Of course, it is his fault this time as well! Something that I'm sure you have already punished him for!" Rosaline spat sarcastically, but when she saw the flicker in Dumbeldore's eyes, her eyes widened and she said shocked, "You did! You punished him!"

"I only gave him detention for three days for being out of bounds," Dumbledore said defensively.

"Why did you give him a punishment so light? After all it was his fault that a classmate tricked him and set him up to get killed! You should have punished him more severely than Sirius!" Rosaline said sarcastically.

Dumbledore wanted to defend himself when his eyes fell on the clock on the wall and he noticed that they spent near an hour and half just arguing. He stayed silent for a few moments pushing his anger aside. Then he slowly sat down, sighed, and said, "I admit that I could have handled the situation better." Minerva snorted. "But It is something that has already happened so arguing about it is pointless. Don't you think we have more important matters to attend to?"

"What – " Poppy started, but Rosaline' response shocked them all. "You are right! We have more pressing matters to attend to." She picked up her cloak and the folder containing the documents which she had put on the table. "Matters like finding a responsible person to take Severus' guardianship."

"What? We spoke about this and there is no time to look for some one else!" Dumbledore protested.

"That was before this." She motioned to the room indicating their conversation. "Do you really think after the disregard you showed about his life I would leave him in you care? Leave a temporarily crippled boy, who needs care in all aspects, in your care? You should be grateful that I am considering things like the current situation of Wizarding World and I'm not reporting this. Merlin knows, I should. You don't have the qualifications for being headmaster of a school full of magical children. You are not qualified to care for a newt let alone being around children regardless of them being magical or not!"

"Rosaline, wait! Listen – " Minerva said, but Rosaline cut her off.

"No, Minerva! I think I have heard enough! – " Minerva who came to stand beside her, put a hand on her arm and said.

"Rosaline, I know what you are thinking! But Albus has a point! We don't have time for this. There are people out there who are after Severus. We don't know what they are up to even now! Also, even if there was time there is no guarantee that you will find someone! You have already prepared the papers with Albus name on them and Albus is in perfect position to win both cases!"

"I understand that the situation is not good, but you really expect me to leave Severus in his care" She motioned toward Dumbeldore. "After all you heard just now?"

There was a glint in Minerva's eyes that Dumbeldore didn't like at all, but before he could intervene, Poppy shot him a glare that made him stop. It seemed that she had caught onto Minerva's plan.

"No, what I mean is that it is not like Albus is going to take him to a unplottable remote island. He will be here! So will Poppy and I. Believe me, after today, I know what exactly to watch out for! We will make sure Severus gets all he needs!"

There was a few moments of silence, where Rosaline was thinking and others were waiting for her answer. In the end, she sighed and said. "If we are really going through with this then I have to say that I have some conditions; beside Severus' condition, of course."

Minerva nodded, motioning to her to continue. It was getting on Dumbledore' nerves how they were acting like he was not in the room, but every time he opened his mouth to say something Poppy shot him a death glare that promised a painful consequence so he was forced to remain silent.

"While the vow that Severus has asked will ensure that he doesn't abuse the power he has over him it doesn't stop him from neglecting his duties and Severus' needs so I want another Unbreakable Vow. As there is the possibility that we have missed some other points in the vow, Mr. Dumbledore needs to consent to a Monitoring Charm and weekly appointments for me to check on Severus' condition personally," Rosaline said formally.

"Those conditions are very reasonable, aren't they, Albus?" Minerva said encouragingly.

Any objection Albus might have had died on his lips as three angry witches turned to him; giving him death glares. Minerva and Poppy's look promised painful death if he dared to say anything other than yes. He had no problem with Unbreakable Vows, as he had no intention of abusing or neglecting Severus, but the concept of being monitored didn't sit well with him. His guilt in the way he treated Severus these past five years was one of the reasons that he didn't outright rejected the offer. He really wanted to make up for it by helping Severus. Another reason was the two women in the room. After years of working together, Poppy and Minerva had become good friends of his. So far they always had an easy relationship, but now both of them were very angry with him. He would never admit it, but it stung that they didn't trust him enough now to accept his verbal promise and they needed an Unbreakable Vow.

When he looked at the problem this way he saw that actually he didn't have much of a choice. If he wanted to help Severus, he had to take his guardianship and if this was the only way that Rosaline would allow him to have Severus' guardianship then he would accept. After all, a Monitoring Charm can always be canceled. So he would consent now and after gaining Rosaline's trust would ask the charm to be lifted. Anyway, it would be better to back down now. This way he can have an advantage if he wanted to make a move later on. He knew how to choose his battles. Therefore he answered calmly with a smile. "Of course. I have no plan to take advantage of my position or neglect my duties, so I have no problem with these conditions. If it is the best way to ensure that Severus gets the help he need, then so be it."

Rosaline nodded tersely. She was frowning. She was finding it hard to believe Dumbledore was genuine. She thought that Dumbledore's sudden consent was suspicious and that he had a hidden motive for it. Nonetheless she proceeded with the preparation for guardianship. After the Unbreakable Vow and monitoring charms were cast, all four of them made their way toward hospital wing. They reached it just in time to witness Severus in the throes of a nightmare.

With his body being too weak to move, Severus just kept shaking his head from side to side. He was sweating and his breath was very shallow. While the four adults came quickly to Severus' bedside, the three women, in an unspoken agreement, looked to Dumbledore to handle the situation.

Dumbledore, feeling like a student performing in front of examiners, gently sat on the side of bed. When calling Severus' name didn't work, Dumbledore put a hand on Severus' shoulder, but seeing Severus' flinch, he withdrew his hand immediately. After a moment of contemplation he put his hand on Severus' head and despite the flinch, he kept it there. Then he slowly started to caress his hair and called his name again. After a few moments Severus started to calm down and his eyelids fluttered. Dumbledore took his hand away as if he was about to get caught doing something illegal. He stood up and looked at three witches behind him to see whether he had passed their test. Apparently, what they saw had satisfied them ...for now as their eyes were still blazing with anger.

~~oOo~~

Severus came to consciousness slowly. He had a nightmare. He could still see it vividly in his mind, but the details were slowly fading. He remembered that he was with his father in their house again. But Lucius was there as well, and so were the Marauders. They were all taking turns hexing and mocking him, but that was not the worst of it. Suddenly a voice said. "Now it is my turn" And there she was; red hair like fire and green eyes which were shining from amusement. Her lips twitched for a moment like she was going to smile as she had done when Potter had him hanging upside down. She raised her wand and Crucioed him, but it didn't hurt as much as the words she uttered next hurt.

"What is it? Little Snivellus can't take a little pain? Look he is going to cry! Like the sniveling slim he is! What did you think? That I cared about you? You are really pathetic. You think I would love you, when someone like James is here?" Here she took Potter's hand in hers. "You are nothing! I just pitied you and decided to give you a little attention like people do to a stray dog! I wanted to care for you; like I would a pet. But pets that bite the hand that feeds them don't deserve to live! So you are going to be the first meal I am giving to my new pet." She looked behind him and when Severus turned and he found himself face to face with a fully transformed werewolf. Severus opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

He tried to crawl backward, but he could not move. His limbs felt like lead. Suddenly the werewolf jumped on him. Its legs were on either side of Severus. The the wolf raised its front leg and put it on Severus' shoulder. Severus shuddered and tried to move, but suddenly the paw was gone and there was a hand on his head which startled Severus as there was no one near his head only the beast. The hand started to stroke his hair and Severus knew who it was: his mother. His mother always caressed his hair like that. No one else ever looked at his hair with anything other than disgust, let alone touch it. Even Lily, during the whole time they had been friends was always careful to not touch his hair, but his mother did.

It actually made sense. Only his mother would care enough to come and save him. And she was calling him. Severus didn't care that the voice was nothing like his mother's – it must be after one of HIS beatings. Her voice was usually hoarse after those beatings. It was then that Severus noticed that the hellhole, everyone in it, and the beast were gone. Next moment he became aware of the fact that he was in a bed. He tried to open his eyes in hopes of seeing his mother once more, but the next moment the hand was gone. 'Of course, mother can't follow me to the world of living. She is dead. She can't be with me in the real world; not anymore.' Severus thought bitterly. A lump formed in his throat. But before he could even think of giving into his emotions, his hyperactive senses alerted him that he was not alone.

Severus with all his might quashed his emotions. When he was sure he was in control again he slowly opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him was not necessarily a pleasant sight that one would like to face upon waking, but it was not unexpected. However, what was surprising was the expressions on the four adult in front of him. Dumbledore had a grim expression on his face. There was no trace of grandfatherly smile he always had plastered on his face. The three witches were trying to look composed, but Severus could see that their eyes were blazing in anger especially when they happened to glance at Dumbledore.

Severus was really curious about the cause of this new development and he thought about different ways he could bring it up and try to get some answers. In the end he decided to not mention it at all because now they had more important things to discuss. Also, if things went well, then he could always try to find out from Madam Pomfrey what had happened. The Matron seemed to like him and out of four adults, she was the one he had more chance of getting some answers out of. But it would have to be done when they were not under scrutiny of the other three adults.

"As you all have come, am I right to assume that my condition was accepted?" Severus started his tone dispassionate.

"Oh, yes," McGonagall said with a gleam in her eyes. The response surprised Severus. He was not sure what to make of it. A look at the other adults didn't shed any light on the matter so reluctantly Severus put it aside to contemplate later.

"So what happens now?" He tried to appear calm, but his mind was in chaos and if he was not so lethargic he might have started to hyperventilate. When he said he would accept Dumbledore's guardianship he thought he was ready for it. But now, really facing it he found himself terrified. He didn't think about the implications of it. He couldn't say that he changed his mind as it would bring back all the problems which had led them to this. Also his pride wouldn't let him to go back on his word. As much as he wanted to run away and hide in a hole he knew that now he had to go through with this.

"First let me check to see whether you are up to this," Madam Pomfrey said.

When Pomfrey declared him well enough, Rosaline stepped in and explained about the procedure of making an Unbreakable Vow. Then they discussed the wordings of the vow and when all were satisfied, the Unbreakable Vow was cast. When Severus was signing the guardianship form he felt like he was walking towards his execution; no it was worse. It was like he was giving consent to be tortured first then executed. Nothing good ever came from adults in his life, except his mother, and now, he was giving one of those said adults more power over him. Even though Severus had the reassurance of the vow that Dumbledore would not – could not – abuse his power, he could not help but feel like he had signed his torture warrant. Knowing something was much different than having to face it.

When all was done, Rosaline and Dumbledore departed to Ministry to file both cases. Before going Rosaline told Severus to be ready, as the examination procedure will most likely take place in the next few days. McGonagal patted his hand and left with the promise of checking on Severus later. After that Madam Pomfrey gave Severus a series of potions and Severus, exhausted in all aspects, surrendered to sleep; a sleep which he was not sure whether he would like waking from ever.

TBC…

They wouldn't stop arguing in my head, so I wrote it as fast as I could to get them out of my head. I tried to keep all characters in character, let me know how successful I was.

Also, PiffyEQ pointed out that Severus knows how Voldemort, Lucius and other Pureblood families would only use him. I want to say that Severus' actions are more because of his distrust in most people, especially male adults than because of him understanding their schemes. In my opinion, people at Severus age tend to see events in a way that they think those events are happening rather than how those events are actually happening. In my opinion that's what happened in canon. One of the reason Severus joined Death Eaters was that he really didn't have the maturity and foresight to see the bigger picture and how things were really happening. So, that's how I am going to write my Severus. He is not aware of the depth of deception Voldemort and his followers use and the only thing keeping him from getting more involved with them is his cautious and hyper-aware nature.

About Severus being unable to move or scream in his dreams, I have to say that some researchers believe that there is a relation between self-esteem (or self-confidence) and how you appear in your dreams. They believe that people who have a low self-esteem are usually unable to scream or run during their nightmares.