Unlike his predecessor, who chose opulent quarters on the sixth floor for hosting parties, Snape was more than satisfied with the small office and bedchamber adjoining his classroom. From here, he could hear the lake at night, and he had gotten used to its soothing sound from his time in the Slytherin dormitories.

On a plush sofa in front of a fire, Severus and Evelyn sat while he recounted everything: his childhood, Lilly, the enticement of dark magic, his losses, his recruitment into the Death Eaters, and finally how he came to be at Hogwarts instead of Azkaban. Most days, he didn't feel worthy of the freedom that Dumbeldore had gifted him.

Evelyn listened as he told his story. She felt every joy and every sorrow as he re-lived his formative moments. She wept his tears that he had long been incapable of producing.

He was staring into the fire, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm embarrassed by how easily I bought into the ideology. It wasn't fear or punishment that kept me there either. I was so lost and alone when he found me. He gave me purpose, belonging, status. I was terrified of losing that, but once I found out…" He just shook his head. He couldn't say it again. "I came to see the truth, how we had been lied to and used. I knew what happened to deserters, but I didn't care after that. I wanted to die for the things I had done." He unclasped his hands in resignation, "but, as luck would have it, the other Enforcers were scattered. Everyone was in hiding. I only meant to confess to Dumbledore, but he always sees a path to redemption. I wouldn't have made it without him these past few years."

When he finished, he sat in silence for a few moments, worried what she would think of him.

"Severus, I'm so sorry you had to go through that." She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. He was feeling his burdens lift as she nuzzled into him, and with that, a sense of guilt. Maybe these burdens weren't meant to be lifted.

"I don't deserve any of this," he said, stroking her shoulder.

She lifted her head up toward him, "That's not for any of us to say. I've spent time with active cult members. I could feel their individuality hiding in small corners of their minds, but mostly, they felt as though they had given themselves up and replaced their identity with membership to the group." She took his hand and softly ran her fingers across the barely visible skull and serpent on his forearm.

"Even if you're suggesting that I didn't choose to, I've done unspeakable things, hurt people in ways that can't be undone. I can't just absolve myself."

"No, you can't," she conceded, "Maybe you didn't merit a second chance, but it doesn't matter, because you have one. You only need to decide what to do with it."

"Dumbledore has similar thoughts," he added. "When the dark lord eventually regains power, Dumbledore wants me to go back to the Death Eaters as his agent."

She clasped a hand over her mouth. Did Dumbledore have any idea how much he was asking? "Severus, you don't have to do this. Stand alongside Dumbledore. Fight with him openly."

"I've thought about this for a long time. It's been years since we disbanded. We were children back then. Some of the Death Eaters have built lives, seen the outside, changed their views. They might not be as eager to fight as they once were. I can help them get out, and at the same time, get information that Dumbledore needs. This is something that I'm uniquely positioned to do. I can't make up for what I've done, but this can save lives now."

She could see that his mind was made up. "If this is what you really want, then I'll stand by you, whatever that means."

She rested her head back against him and listened to the steady rhythm of his heart with the rise and fall of his chest. It was close to three o'clock, he was emotionally drained and soon fell asleep. Evelyn stayed with him like this for a while until the sofa became too uncomfortable.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," she whispered to him.

"Stay," he asked, groggily taking her hand, "please stay."

Throughout the night, he would reach out for her reassuring presence. For the first time in many years, Severus Snape found himself free of nightmares and able to experience a peaceful night's sleep.