A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the 30 Days of Music Challenge, prompt: 24. "Oh this road is long, this road is wide, It takes more than luck to last the ride" ~ Learning to Breathe - Nerina Pallot

Word count: 629

Warning: talk of death

Severus had always thought the road would end as the war ended, his service no longer required by either of his masters. He thought, maybe if he just held on long enough, kept himself busy enough, he could pretend he didn't see it coming, that he didn't know the end was right around the bend.

"It doesn't have to be like that," Hermione commented, leaning against the door frame of his classroom.

"Miss Granger?"

"I know what you're thinking, well, part of it at least. I see the look in your eyes, the desperation of knowing. It's coming, isn't it, Sir, the end?"

"It is," he answered. "The end is coming, Miss Granger."

"They're saying you're a Death Eater, but Dumbledore vouched for you, so I don't know what to believe."

"What does it matter what you believe, Miss Granger?"

"Because I'm friends with Chosen One? Because I know the danger that's coming. You know what Dumbledore's been teaching Harry, you know about everything that goes on around this school. Don't deny it."

"Why would I?" Severus asked, his curiosity growing slightly. What was Miss Granger going on about now? Why had she even bothered to approach him?

"Never mind that, we know what He's done, You-Know-Who. We know how he's still alive, how he's planning on living forever."

Severus stared at her, his eyes wide. He had a feeling Albus had sworn the Potter boy to secrecy, that Miss Granger shouldn't be telling him any of this. Why was she?

"You do."

"Yes, I know I shouldn't be telling you any of this, shouldn't be talking about it at all. Harry's told me and Ron everything. He's convinced Draco's up to something, he is, but that's besides the point. I see the way you're watching Draco too, like you know something about it. I think it's all tied together, Sir, the horcruxes and Draco and you."

Severus watched her for a moment. There was something in her eyes, a hope that maybe she hadn't done something incredibly foolish. He blinked, wondering just how much of the truth he dared to tell her. Horcruxes, that's how Lord Voldemort had done it. He had only heard of them, vaguely of course, since that kind of magic was something no one talked about, not even in the darkest of company. Yet, Miss Granger had said it out loud without hesitation.

"Draco has nothing to do with the horacruxes," he finally stated. "I believe Albus, Potter, Weasley and you are the only ones who know about that part of it. I did not know until you told me."

"More information for you to file away, to hide from Him then?"

"What do you want, Miss Granger?"

"You're help, Sir. You know Him well enough, Dumbledore's putting the pieces together, but you have an inside line, a highway to knowing more, don't you?"

"And if I did?" he asked, already knowing what Miss Granger was suggesting. The idea of being on her side, not Albus' was an interesting thought. She and Albus wanted the same thing, but Severus had a feeling they both had very different ideas of how to procure it.

"Just something to think about, you're already Dumbledore's man, or at least, you pretend to be. I've got to get going, can't miss class," she smiled, her eyes meeting his. Severus knew in that moment, he was do serving Albus, serving his Lord, Miss Granger could easily be his new master, someone who apparently had no agenda other ending this nightmare. For a moment, before she slipped out of the classroom, Severus felt a shard of hope, maybe this road didn't end in his death, maybe, just maybe if he held on tight enough, changed lanes now, he might survive this.