Stars, he tasted stars. Every other flavor was mild compared to this. Concern, lemon, stress, regret. No, just stars in ever moving fractals. He swallowed quickly and greedily; one, four, seven. Small suns filling his mouth and cascading like comets down his throat.
"-enough."
The voice was distant, muffled. He didn't pay it any mind. He felt content. The tired aching need, the buzzing in his head, was gone. He felt… full. Truly sated. At peace.
"Severus. Stop."
The voice was louder, more insistent. Snape blinked, trying to figure out what was going on. The last thing he remembered even vaguely was drinking from the pitcher. Now he was eating-
"That's enough!"
And then pain hit him as he was thrown away by a concussive blast of energy and wind. Once again he hit a wall. This time however he fell to the ground and shook his head. Blinking, he quickly righted himself and looked around.
His eyes widened, they did not like the scene laid before them. Dumbledore, wand raised and pointed at him. It shook very slightly as the man leaned against the wall breathing hard. A profusely bleeding shoulder was visible through torn robes where his fangs had ripped through flesh and cloth as he had been thrown across the room.
Snape licked his lips, blood. Ozone and lemon. "No…" This is the one thing he did not want to happen. Not now, not out of control, not-
"Severus, don't-"
Severus snarled and cut the old fool off, trying to cover his dismay… and disgust at his actions with anger. "No Albus. I attempted to stay in the school so two of the most capable people I know could assist me with this instead of leaving and risking exposing my nature. Look where we have ended up!" He snapped as he stood up and dusted himself off with an air of false normality. He looked up at the headmaster who was attempting to gather himself through an amount of pain he had likely not experienced in years. Snape swallowed and resisted the urge to help the man. Instead he stood up straight and frowned before declaring his intentions "No More! I am leaving! And if you send Anybody after me… Right now I cannot promise they won't get the same treatment I gave you and Minerva!"
"Severus, I com-"
But Snape was walking briskly out of the room. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it. The twitch of a wand hand. It was time to test the limits of his new speed.
He ran, feet slapping against the ground with less than a half second between each step. The nonverbal spell hit the wall centimeters behind him in a shower of blue light before he stepped through the door. He skidded to a halt outside the room.
Hagrid was just starting to stand up after having collided with a globe and numerous other trinkets. He lay atop the pile of broken items, one hand pushing himself up and the other rubbing his head.
"Oh…my head."
Snape stood over him and Hagrid paused as he noticed he wasn't alone.
"Ah, now let's not be rash. I-"
"Tend to him. I am leaving."
"Now Professor-"
But he was gone.
The halls were a blur as he rushed by. Students gasped as wind pushed them to the side. Books were dropped, robes rippled. Flitwick flew through the air and hit a wall hard enough to put him in a daze as Snape passed, pushing him out of the way when he stepped in front of him, wand raised.
Snape ran and dodged and wove through the river of daily life at Hogwarts. He stayed toward the center of the school, he had no idea what time it was, if it was daylight. It would be a disservice to everyone if he made them go through all this trouble only to explode into flame.
He turned and staircases loomed before him, changing. Students walked up some, waited for others, everyone grabbing railings as if their lives might depend on it. He started to leap down the nearest one. As long as it went downward he would get to the dungeons eventually.
"Clear the halls! Prefects escort students to their houses. Pamona, Hooch, that way. Poppy renervate Flitwick! Hagrid, to the astronomy tower! Spread out!" Dumbledore's voice boomed through the corridors. Snape clicked his tongue in annoyance, and jumped over the railing. Portraits gasped and students looked down as the dark blur fell down the center of the grand stairwell.
"Nebulus!" The spell came from above as Snape fell, fog filling the area. The voice was Albus'.
Snape sneered as he sped down and the fog enveloped him. Of course, Dumbledore couldn't let students see Snape survive this without a wand. Of course. Still, just in case they saw, or that wasn't Albus' true intention.
Snape closed his eyes and let go. His practice and years of Occlumency paid off as he relaxed and joined the fog. Just in time as well.
"Advitam Voluntas! Go! Find him!" Dumbledore's voice boomed out again, and the fog roiled. Hands and eyes and hooves formed in the wet miasma. They tore and searched and grasped around him. Horses made of water vapor charged off down the halls.
Snape sneered mentally.
The spell was looking for him as Albus saw him, it worked on 'his Will' after all. It wouldn't find him like this. And if it did, it wouldn't be able to grab him.
Snape followed some misty horses down a corridor and turned toward the dungeon hallways and his quarters. It was an obvious choice, but it was the only safe space for him to put his wand. His Untraceable Chamber, nothing inside could be summoned out of it except by the owner unless they were inside. That meant even Dumbledore, with his tendency to break through other people's protective wards, would have to find it first. He hoped Albus didn't know where all the rooms were. He prayed that the headmaster just had the ability to enter them.
Well, even if Albus knew where Snape had chosen to activate the spell, the old man would still need the key.
Snape rushed towards his classroom. His chambers were all connected, and the means by which they were was very well hidden. He was sure some of the other teachers knew about them, but he changed the passwords multiple times a year. He flew ahead of the stampede and peeled off from the herd, sneaking under the door to the potions classroom. He reformed with a lurch and quickly moved to the back and his private potions chamber.
He looked quite normal now, all of his more telling features once again hidden. In that private room he moved aside three bottles from a shelf and pushed a brick behind them.
In a physical form again the fog would locate him. He had to hurry. He could hear the herd banging at the door and filling the classroom behind him.
"Scelerisque." As he put the bottles back a small door grew in the back wall, and Severus walked through. The room he entered was circular with three doors. Two were green and the one he came through was red. One went to his chambers, one went to his office, and one went to the potion master's potion room behind the classroom. The door to this room was hidden in each one. Very few people knew about all of them. He knew Minerva knew of two, but not which ones.
Snape opened the door to his chambers, the door behind him turning green again as it closed, once again nonexistent on the other side. Snape could hear the faint rumbling of fog entering his private potions room just as the door finished turning green. He'd have to be quick, his personal chambers were not extraordinarily far from the classroom.
Once he closed the door to his rooms it vanished and a still life painting of a rose with a mortar and pestle fell from the ceiling to cover the wall. He headed over to his bed and knelt down. He sighed. Right where he had hidden it. The last place anyone would look for something he hid. 'Surely he was too smart to hide something there?' He snorted, not anything that they could use if they found it.
The charmed box was pulled out from under his bed and his fingers activated the spell locking it. Now unlocked it popped open to reveal a key, which Snape pocketed. After locking the box he placed it on the ground and gently kicked it back under the bed. The thundering of phantom hooves was getting louder. He grabbed one of his robes and threw it over his suit as he walked. He also grabbed a pair of shoes and socks on the way, his having been ruined by his damnable talons again.
Snape headed to the back bookcase and looked at it. He placed his hand on the books and spoke.
"Suqut ghirifun." He curled his lip at how apt the password was today while the bookcase crumpled inward on itself to reveal a wall that was growing yet another door. As soon as it formed Snape walked through it, closing it behind him to the faint whinnying that was growing annoyed and desperate.
The room he was in was bare, but growing features as he walked in. A dark green carpet with red accents and a white lily in the center sprouted from the floor with a large arm chair in the corner. The back wall sprouted a table with a cauldron and numerous vials. Snape waved his hand and more accouterments ceased their appearance. He needed none of this right now, even if all he wanted was to sit down for a bit and think. The Untraceable Chamber was reacting to his wants and needs, but now was not the time. He sat in the chair and donned the socks and shoes before heading to the back of the room.
At the back wall he put his hand through a random stone as if it weren't there. He removed a long box and with the key opened it. He smiled a genuine smile at its contents.
A photo of Lily and himself as children was in the corner, they waved at him as Lily stuck out her tongue. The young Severus in the image grinned as he was pushed downward in Lily's attempts to get higher and wave at the onlooker. However that was not what held his attention right now. A long dark piece of polished wood sat in the center and Snape picked it up gingerly. His wand. It felt warm in his hand, it had been over a month since he'd held it. However, since the other option was to have Minerva or Dumbledore hold it, he had preferred this just in case.
It turned out he was right.
He waved it and without a word the case snapped shut and floated back into its hole, while the key floated into his pocket. He looked around the room, and then at the door and frowned. He had no time to make new charms that would give him a heartbeat or let him eat food, let alone actually put them under his skin. His lotions however, if he could grab them, would be invaluable. He hurried out of the Untraceable Chamber, the door vanishing behind him, and headed to his bathroom where he kept his lotions. They were on the sink, the one for sunlight would be by far the most important. If he could just get twenty seconds to do his hands and head he would at least not completely burst into flames. He had just put some on his hand to run through his hair when he froze.
There was someone in his quarters.
"Severus? Are you here?"
Snape scowled and ran his hand through his hair to get rid of the lotion. The cat was here. He would have nowhere near enough time to do any more. He looked at the bottle and quickly cast a nonverbal shrinking charm on it. He was about to cast an unbreakable charm on it when there was a knock on the bathroom door. Snape froze then set the bottle down. It would not be worth it to have it broken. If he cast a spell, it left him open to attack. Snape raised his wand and waited.
"Severus, are you in there?" There was silence. "Inmortui reveleo."
Snape sighed and rolled his eyes. Of course she would cast that. At this range there would be no doubt.
"Severus, I know you're in there. We just want to hel-"
"You have all helped quite enough. I have attacked two of you now and I Refuse to continue with these farces at fixing this situation. I'm leaving and at this point if anyone Chooses to continue chasing me I will feel no remorse in what happens."
"Severus, I very much doubt that."
"Minerva, you have no idea what I feel. For instance I 'feel' like I would like to be left alone while I put on my lotion, but I have a 'feeling' that will not happen."
"No Severus, I suppose it will not."
"What if I were to ask you to leave." He said, putting power behind the words. Hopefully that one drop of blood would be enough to buy him time. There were footsteps, and they got quieter along with her heartbeat. She had left. Snape exhaled and went to cast the unbreakable charm but was once again stopped.
"Mr. Severus Snape! If you ever do that to me again I will put you in detention and set you about writing lines! I do not care that you are no longer my student, Merlin help me, I will find a way!" McGonagall's voice was irate and growing louder along with her thundering footsteps.
Severus sighed. That did not last as long as he would have hoped. Damned Gryffindors and their impetuous anger. He raised his wand and cast a blasting charm at the door. It blew off its hinges but disintegrated with a wave of McGonagall's wand. Snape walked out to the center of the room and they both eyed each other cautiously. Normally spells would be flying, but they were in Snape's chambers. There were potions and bottles everywhere, one wayward spell, and only Snape knew what would happen.
"And what would you have me write in this hypothetical detention? 'I will not eat my former Transfigurations professor?' Perhaps 'I will not enthrall my fellow colleagues?'" He questioned with light amusement.
Snape's chambers were simple, but had a bit of flair. They were in the sitting room, or office now. The center held a simple coffee table piled high with books next to a green high backed armchair that did not look comfortable in the least. They circled it as they spoke.
"How about 'I will not be a bullheaded idiot and accept assistance when it is offered!" Minerva snapped.
Snape knew staying here was a recipe for his own failure. Time was his real enemy here. Snape glanced at the desk attached to the wall below his book shelf. Numerous books and potions ingredients were there, a plan formed.
"Severus. Please reconsider. Let us help."
"And I will say it again. You've helped quite enough. And if you even start to cast rictusempra I will kill you. And I will enjoy it."
There was a sound outside, a neighing in the distance, and they began.
Vines sprouted from the wooden chair and grabbed for Snape, who with a wave turned them black and gifted them with thorns. They rushed towards McGonagall who set them ablaze. Snape sent a concussive blast at her feet, hoping to end the fight but her quick shield charm caused the spell to dissipate loudly.
Snape quickly changed tactics and flung a bottle from the wall at her but she shattered it. There was immediately a loud scream as a small childlike plant was released from the numerous charms on the bottle.
McGonagall's eyes grew wide and she threw a silencing charm at it. Snape took advantage of the moment to cast stupefy, and she fell to the floor with a thud. Snape exhaled and then looked at the screaming plant, its mouth moving but no sound coming out. There was no way to tell the mandrake wasn't fully matured, the only reason he knew was because he had harvested it. With a wave it was sliced in half, its previous home in bits on the floor and in no condition to house it; he did not have time to recast the spells required. He gazed back to the bathroom and his lotions, but could hear the hooves in the distance coming back for a second sweep. It was time to go.
He grabbed one of his numerous belts of vials on his way out, with one glance back at the cat. She would no doubt have thought that last attack was a dirty trick. After all, it wasn't like a mandrake's scream would affect something already dead.
He ran down the corridors, the stampede behind him neighing. His face was expressionless as he rushed down the halls, the stone a blur beneath his feet as he put on the belt. He took turns automatically, he had patrolled down here for years, most teachers knew the halls by heart and he was no different. What most teachers didn't know about were the secret passages. In fact, most students didn't know of them. Snape was sure there were more than the three he had found out of the school. He was also sure there were more in the school than he knew of. The fifteen he had found within were responsible for his lack of tardiness during his school years, and his ability to find more students out of bed than any other teacher besides Albus.
He planned on taking one now, up to the quidditch pitch. He would be expected to go to Hogsmeade, however there was a much darker and far more welcoming place for him that was closer. He whisked behind the tapestry of the original Slytherin quidditch team and pressed a stone that was behind a bludger. The wall opened and he ran upward.
He could hear the stones close behind him and he took a moment to think, feeling safe from the fog in the magic passageway. He was distracted from his thoughts by muffled voices. The passageway went right behind two common rooms at different points in its very long meandering path towards the quidditch pitch. The students were in a tizzy. He paused to listen, the students always knew more than they were supposed to. Perhaps he could learn something useful.
"Does anyone know what is going on?"
That would be Johanna Hailbron, 2nd year Slytherin, top of her potions class.
"I heard a mandrake scream in the distance, there's rumors the greenhouse exploded."
Snape snorted. That would be Carlos Cantilena, the notorious gossip. His family had started the Prophet ages ago.
"All we know is that two of the Professors had to be renervated. Those are facts Carlos, and unless anybody else has any they can bugger off."
Snape smirked, that was Allegra Adevar, a seventh year student with a nose for the truth.
"I…I heard they were looking for Snape, and he got two of them, Flitwick and McGonagall. I…I saw Flitwick get thrown against a wall, it wasn't hard but he kinda…got trampled by a few students because he fell underfoot. He got up quickly and moved to the side but it looked like he had been hit by a Confundus. Whatever hit him, I don't think it was malicious. McGonagall though, she was stupefied, I heard Poppy say it as they passed our door not a minute ago."
That was the first year Narrius Obserjat. He was very talkative and often ignored; everyone was listening now. The room was quiet for about three seconds and then whispers erupted.
"Does he need help?"
"What's going on?"
"I knew he'd eventually get angry enough and duel McGonagell."
Snape snorted again at that comment and moved on. Children always knew more than they should, and always came to the wrong conclusions.
He continued upward and could hear the chattering of the Hufflepuff common room. Snape paused, remembering the headmaster's comment from a few months ago.
"He's totally a vampire!"
Snape flinched, then relaxed. That was Rosenberg. Matt Rosenberg had a large mouth, a wild imagination, and was always writing fantastical stories to amuse his friends. No one would believe him.
"Nu-uh! Snape's nice! He took me to the infirmary!"
Snape flinched again, Banderknott. "He's scary but nice! He's not a vampire!"
Snape scowled at that, deeply conflicted. He had failed the child, it had kept him sane for a day longer, but he had failed that child. And the result of that failure hadn't even sustained him for the days it should have with the incident that followed.
"Being a vampire does not preclude one from being nice. My great grandfather got turned into one. He brings me blood pops, they aren't that bad you know." Said Sara Snivley. It was a name that did not represent the strong minded young woman. She had nearly been a hatstall four years ago, and to his knowledge the hat had never been more still. Only due to his keen hearing had he heard their conversation. He remembered it vividly, even if it was one sided. He pulled the memory to the fore.
"Well, I mean I was kinda shut inside, we didn't grow up in a nice area. So I'm not surprised I don't have a lot for you to go on."
A shake of the head followed the hat's mild gesticulations.
"I've been reading for five years, I'm kinda sick of it. I'd love some hands-on experience."
Silence for another moment while the hat twitched.
"I've read on Gryffindor, they kinda…rush in headlong don't they?"
She sighed after a moment.
"I'd… really just like some friends. People I can rely on, who will rely on me. I want to help! Be part of something!"
"Hufflepuff!"
Snape had kept an eye on her, but to his knowledge she wasn't anything less than a normal model student.
"Does…does he make them himself?" Questioned Banderknott.
"Of course not! That's highly regulated. It really doesn't matter if Snape is a vampire or not, as long as he has food and isn't an idiot, which most teachers aren't, we're fine. Now, are we taking this extra hour to go over our plan of attack or not?"
Snape raised a brow at that. Plan of attack? Perhaps not a model student.
"Fine, fine yeah. Ok, so the NEWT Slytherin potions class lets out at 4pm every Thursday. They are most definitely going to run into some of our third year transfiguration attendees. They always do. Usually our prefect takes care of that but he's in the hospital wing with a shattered tibia from a rogue bludger and it's now infected with-"
That was the seventh year Pelligra Palativ, it was well known she wanted to be a healer at St Mungo's. The schedule there was so hectic and complicated that at least three doctors had time turners. All nurses were required to take a scheduling class and a tactics course on how to organize themselves and the numerous gurneys, potions, and people that basically amounted to a war zone and a supply line. It looked like she was starting on training early.
"Yeah, we don't need to hear about the fungal growth again, or its singing ability. No, we need to figure out who we can divert. We'd need at least three. I have a free period then, I can count for one. I'm really not satisfied with the last curse I did. Some practice on bullies wouldn't hurt. Should put them out of the game for a bit if their fingers turn to jelly whenever they so much as look at a Hufflepuff." Said Sara a bit too enthusiastically.
Snape shook his head and moved on, so that's what Dumbledore meant. Snape truly did pity the bully that tried to take on that group.
He hurried up the rest of the way. The tunnel eventually turned into clay and crude stone. Grass roots occasionally poked through the top to graze his head. Finally he paused under the trapdoor. He could hear someone above. Absolutely no one should be out here.
"It's a Stupid sport. Why I'm the one who has to check the rigging is beyond me. Couldn't fix it anyway. All magical fixings ain't it? No. Old Filch is out here just to check them, can't fix them himself though." Snape rolled his eyes. He had heard many a quiet rambling complaint from the glorified janitor. Still, it wouldn't do to have the man know, or even suspect, about this passageway. He'd have to wait. Snape didn't want to hurt him; Filch was, on occasion, agreeable.
"Never did like brooms. Students flying through corridors ain't natural. Should be banned." Snape sighed. This was going to take a while, he could tell. He stepped to the side and looked through the small hole in the ground. Filch was checking the melded wood of the tower. Every few years they had to be checked due to the number of students hitting them, crashing into them, or falling down them. Checking them fell to Filch so teachers could organize the mending based around free periods, lessons in mending spells, and quidditch practices.
Filch was one of the faculty who did not know about Snape's condition. The man was still skilled at his job, if just a tad too extreme in his enthusiasm for thumb screws. Either way, even if his loyalty was to the school Albus did not trust the man to act in the students' best interests so much as the building's. Snape tended to agree.
Oh, it would be so easy to just- Snape shook his head. No. But perhaps there was another way, one that would protect him and the vile man. He grabbed one of the empty vials from his belt and tapped it with his wand. If filled up with red liquid. His blood. He was thankful he'd spelled these vials to do this. It had taken a good few weeks to cast the charms and key them to him, but it was worth it. He had done it originally for use in spying and potions work. It was hard to summon blood without a cut to draw it from, it was of course easier if it was your own, but it was still tricky and could result in clots if you weren't careful. This had been a good compromise.
With the vial in his hand he pushed a stone above him and the trap door opened.
"Can't believe that- what? Professor!?"
Snape stepped up through the trap door and dusted himself off before looking at Filch. He glanced at the ground near the edges of the tarp, light, daylight was filtering in. He scowled and returned his gaze to the man in front of him.
"Filch. There is a problem at the school. I came to tell you to stay away for at least an hour."
Filch scowled, but looked at the trap door briefly before looking at Snape.
"May I ask what's going on Professor?"
"Potion gone wrong from a student experimenting. It became sentient and is galloping as a white mist infecting people with boils. Drink this, it will protect you from any lingering wisps of mist you might encounter on the grounds." Severus held out the vial to the man who eyed it warily, as he did everything. The man was on good terms with the vampire, they both despised unruly children, and Filch often reported them to him, or vice versa. However, the squibb's paranoia didn't lessen because his respect increased.
"I…don't know. Haven't heard any commotion."
At that point Albus' voice boomed across the school.
"He has left the school proper! Kettleburn, your sargluffs!"
Snape held back the curses on his tongue. Seeking sargluffs we're not to be trifled with. If you were within 2 miles of them, they could find you with unerring accuracy within at least ten minutes. He returned his attention to Filch, whose eyes had grown full of doubt.
"What's going on Professor? Did you finally string a student by their ankles like we always talked about, or is somethin more sinister goin on? I was never against hirin a former Death Eater, but maybe the other profes-"
"Filch. I'm leaving because I am currently a danger to everyone on the campus. If you wish to be difficult, I will happily demonstrate why." Snape said venomously as his eyes flashed red.
Filch's eyes went wide and he looked toward the flap in the terrapin.
Snape just raised his wand. "Now, are you going to listen to me, or am I going to have to live up to my reputation as a 'former Death Eater'?" Snape thrust out the vial and Filch looked at him. Snape just raised a brow.
Filch nodded and took the vial, Snape waited. And waited. "I do not have an abundance of time, drink it. Now."
Filch swallowed and nodded, uncorking the vial and downing its contents quickly, obviously expecting a bad taste.
Snape held out his hand as Filch looked at the vial with curious eyes.
"Ain't never tasted a potion like that."
"Pray you never will again. Now…" Snape held out his hand for the vial, but Filch seemed a tad reluctant to return it. Snape raised a brow and Filch sighed but put the vial in Snape's hand. After returning the vial to its place Snape took a breath and put power behind his words, drawing on his blood. He rarely did this, it was frowned upon by the wizarding council. It was too close to an imperius. It wasn't forbidden however, unlike numerous other things he could do now. "You will forget that you saw me come up from that trap door, you will forget about the trap door, you will forget about the vial, you will forget my eyes flashed red, and the commands I've issued, except that you will follow through with them. You will, return to the school and report everything else about this encounter as soon as I'm gone." Filch swayed, then nodded his head.
"Yes, p-...Professor."
Snape rolled his eyes and let go. Filch reeled back and stumbled a bit before shaking his head again.
"Professor? So, what are you-"
"I'm leaving. Hogsmeade, London, I don't know where, but I'm leaving. And anyone who tries to stop me to 'help' before I am ready to return, will meet the end of my wand, and more." With that Snape cast a spell through the tarp and walked quickly out to the grounds, a cloud of black smoke surrounding him.
His skin itched as his walk turned into a run. The sun was a wicked thing today, beating down from a clear blue sky. Snape glanced at it. He estimated at least four hours till sunset. As long as he was in direct sunlight, none of his more vampiric powers would work. If he ran any faster the cloud wouldn't be able to keep up without more wand work than he wished to waste time on. It was just a cloud after all, they weren't known for their speed. He waved his wand and the air rippled around him. The disillusionment charm was not extremely powerful, but it was less noticeable than a black cloud of smoke moving towards the Forbidden Forest.
"Scwarf! Scwarf!"
Snape cursed as the sound echoed over the campus. Kettleburn had just given his pets the scent. He had less than ten minutes to get at least two miles into the forest.
(So why isn't Snape the master of the Elder Wand? Two reasons. Dumbledore was not trying to beat Snape, but save Hagrid. He did not see this as a fight.
Two Snape was not in his right mind, and therefore not attacking with intent to win anything.
That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
Also, if you can't tell Minerva and Snape banter is on of my favorite things. Review if you like it and want to see more.)