Severus Snape woke up startled by the sound of glass shattering and loud footsteps running up the stairs in the middle of the night. Seems like the deatheaters, or whoever else was chasing him already found him. He shouldn't have assumed so

He stood up, put on his coat, and put the album in his pockets. He also took his wand and rapidly set fiery traps next to his door, and Sempreverde awoke as soon as Severus closed his cage. He apparated as soon as the footsteps reached his cherrywood colored door.

He was now at Privet Drive, and though he was supposed to hide, he took interest in the fact that the lights in 4 Privet Drive were still on in the dead of night. His pursuers were either the deatheaters or the Order members, with a possibilityit might be both. It would be impossible that they were Aurors, because he'd be on the newspapers by now, but he was not.

The deatheaters or the Order members would find him nearly everywhere if they found him in a muggle motel, knowing he despised his muggle heritage. That also meant they were steps ahead of him, thinking he'd be anywhere but where deatheaters and Aurors would be, seeing they knew that he knew some Aurors were Order members and vice versa.

Severus snuck behind the brown house quickly, avoiding being sighted from the luminated windows. He hid behind bushes, contemplating his next move — or rather his next hiding place. And strangely enough, it had occured to him that they would never look for him at Hogwarts. Therefore, why couldn't he hide there?

He, once again, apparated to Hogwarts. Severus steered away from Hagrid's hut, the dog seeming to guard the entire field of pumpkins with agressive eyes. He entered the castle and hid in the darkness and the shadows.

He ran upstairs stealthily, hoping Peeves was no where around. Upon finally stepping on the seventh floor, Severus wished for a protected safe place to stay. The Come And Go Room, or The Room Of Requirement, opened it's doors, letting Severus in.

The room was small, and had a few bookcases. A large light gray carpet was spread on the room's floor. It smelled like safety, or so he allowed himself to believe. The motel hadn't been obvious, but he could not understand how they found him, whether it was the deatheaters or the Order members.

Severus sat on the carpet, one of the books he found on the shelves in his hands. He slept for a few hours, and whe he woke up, only the few rays of sunlight poked from a minuscule window, as small as his hand. He could not bring himself to sleep any longer, so he picked a DADA book he'd already read six years ago. He read for a few hours, but soon there were the sounds of hordes of students roaming around, and he was unable to read in peace any longer.

It was quite obvious the room given allowed him to hear sounds in a greater volume even though they weren't on the seventh floor, as most never came there. It was part of the extended wariness of the room. After a few hours, when the sunlight was brightening more rapidly than a blink of an eye, he explored the room having nothing to do. He sat down with another book when the ruckus quieted and stopped when it began once more.

Soon after, it was curfew, and Severus sat with yet another book in his hands reading with the light of his wand. He finished it and went to the shelves to pick another book of his interests. 'Advanced Curses and Counter Curses'? He'd already read that book too many times, to the point he'd almost memorized. 'Most Potent Potions' was a book he'd memorized word by word with his enhancements.

"Hello Severus." Someone behind him said gently, in a way that was almost somniferous.

Severus turned around, startled by a voice that sounded like The Dark Lord's, but not at all so cruel. He pointed his wand at the source of noise, and his wand luminated the aggravatingly calm face of Albus Brian Percival Wolfric Dumbledore.

"Put your wand down, Severus." The man said, and with a whirl of his hand, he luminated the room. "I only wanted to speak with you. What are you doing here, at this hour?"

"I could be asking the same for you." Severus said, hiding the fear trying to escape his Occlumency and maintaining his coldness to a decent amount.

"This is my school, Severus. Though I can not say the same for you." Dumbledore said.

Severus glared at the Headmaster of the school he was hiding in, without saying a single word. The glare spoke volumes in this situation, where fear was poking his Occlumency like the sunlight poked at sunrise. Anger and Irritation were swimming invisibly in this room that was once filled with safety so false.

"Severus, I do know you poisoned Lily, for it was a task given by Voldemort. I am also aware that you polyjuiced yourself and put an harmless antidote to those not poisoned in those chocolates."

Severus did not react, but he did sneer inwardly. Of course he knew. How wouldn't he, with his madly accurate predictions? Severus realized Dumbledore had sent Order members to chase him so he could think of entering Hogwarts. But how did Dumbledore know he was in this exact room?

"You are here because you're hiding from the deatheaters, as well as the Order members I sent to chase you." Dumbledore explained, "I put an alarm in this room as well. I'd say we make a compromise."

Severus glared at him once more as fear spread into the room graciously, to add more irritation to the stacks he already had. It was just as he'd thought, but why hadn't he checked the room for alarms? Simply because it was the Room of Requirement did not mean it couldn't be tricked. It also didn't mean he couldn't get tricked by it, no matter how much safety he wished for. Wouldn't anyone allow him to live in peace?

"A compromise? I'd say it's blackmailing, seeing as if I'd say no, I'd go to Azkaban." Severus said disagreeably.

Dumbledore approached him. "All I want Severus, all I want...is to know more about the poison and it's wonderful antidote."

Everyone was fooled by him too, weren't they? Dumbledore was much too alike with the Dark Lord, but not many noticed that. Always expecting a yes, and tricking others into compromising because it benefited them greatly, even though it was neither a compromise nor an exchange or a bargain. Severus would say the only difference was how they produced their games of master trickery and why.

The Dark Lord spoke calmly but dangerously, his voice and tones both to impress and implicate that he was indeed more dangerous than one would think, which was already very much. At the time, one would think he was offering favors. Months later, one would realize it was an exchange or a bargain. Years later, one would realize it wasn't a favor, it was something the Dark Lord would use on your head as to make you do certain things. He would pressure you into giving the answer he desired without one's realization about it. His goal was to gather and recruit as many deatheaters and allies as possible so he could kill enemies and control the world.

As for Dumbledore? He made compromises and exchanges, already taking it a level below as to hit realization squarely in the face and render realization afraid of coming until decades later, possibly more or never at all. He was manipulative, but the layers of kindness and calmness hid it like an ocean would hide a minuscule diamond. Dumbledore also hid all of injustice and cruel predictions. He would predict what would happen, and though having the most accurate reasons and causes one could have, he did nothing to change what was bad. He also caused others to believe his motto 'For the Greater Good' was such an honorable and noble thing. His goal, by no doubt, was to defeat Dumbledore forever, and the prophecy was his way of doing it, even though it meant the most possible death of Lily, and obviously bloody Potter.

Severus trusted neither of them, and though there was no loophole in Dumbledore blackmail, he refused to tell him about Somnum, the original version of Ficrealis. The less he had to tell, and the more he had to keep, the better.

"The poison is called Ficrealis." Severus said, finally speaking after moments of contemplation jn absolute silence. "It has Felix Felicis in it, but only a minuscule amount, enough to last a few hours. It's tricks the drinker into believing it's not a poison because of it's color. The taste and smell match the drinker's likes. The drinker dies precisely three days after with no symptoms whatsoever."

"Interesting. You have...a great potential." Dumbledore said. "Come, let's go to my office."

Another similarity. What could he expect? The Dark Lord had told him the same phrase...or a more finished form. 'You have a great potential, Severus. It would be a shame if you weren't part of the cause, and I am pleased that you are.'

They walked in darkness, nothing luminating the corridors and the hallways they walked through.

"Chocolate Frogs." Dumbledore said upon stepping in front of the Griffin, and soon after, they were at their destination. Severus had only seen this room once,when Dumbledore was telling him to keep certain secrets. Severus sat on the opposite chair to Dumbledore.

"What of the antidote, Severus? Why did you decide to heal Lily?" Dumbledore asked, "Why did you defy him to simply do that?"

Damn his incredelousness, trying to manipulate him into thinking Severus's actions were a surprise for him...not only that, he knew the answer, and he wanted confirmation, the bloody old hag. Severus regrasped his Occlumency shields before speaking.

"(Awake/Wary in Italian/Latin) is the antidote's name. It undo's the actions of Ficrealis. There is but a single condition, which is that the antitode must be droke by the poisoned on the day of their death. I healed Lily, and by consequence, defied him because I simply felt bad for poisoning a childhood friend."

Seeming satisfied with his answers like The Dark Lord, Dumbledore smiled in a way The Dark Lord never did. People only saw the differences, not the similarities. But again, most had never seen or heard The Dark Lord.

"In return, Severus, you will be protected and you won't go to Azkaban. Though I'd like you to be...our —" Dumbledore almost finished before many people entered.

Severus turned around to find all four Marauders, one of which was a deatheater to his knowledge and his knowledge only out of those in the room. Alastor Moody and the Longbottoms were also present. His eyes landed on Lily, who paled as anger and shock swiftly and cheerfully entered the room, ungrateful for being let in.

"What is he doing here?!" Potter shouted as voices of agreement entered the conversation as well.

"Calm down everyone." Dumbledore said as several chairs appeared, which they sat on. Black was the only one standing.

"I assure you, he is no longer against us. He's given me information, Lily is safe, and he's agreed to be a private potioneer." Dumbledore continued.

Severus turned around once more, the shock and absolute disagreement written on his face. Dumbledore only smiled in return, as if welcoming aggravation once more, being the irritating manipulative Headmaster he was.

"What?! That can't be true!" Black shouted with chimes of agreement from Moody, Frank Longbottom, and Peter Pettigrew.

"He can't be trusted! He poisoned my wife!" Potter exclaimed.

"I also healed your wife." Severus added coolly as some of them glared at him ragefully.

"Don't worry, James. He's on our side. If he turns against us, he'll be on the run once more, seeing as the deatheaters will wanf to torture and kill him for his betrayal." Dumbledore said as Severus semi apparated, a rather dranatic move in his mind to ruin the Marauders but save them from any betrayal at once.

"Where'd he go?!" Alice exclaimed as they all retook their wands out, except Black and Potter who already had it out.

Severus now stood behind Pettigrew and non verbally performed the petrification curse. Some of the members turned their heads to look at him, but it was only Dumbledore who wasn't even mildly surprised.

"He's a deatheater." was Severus only explanation.

The Order members looked confused and both Black and Potter denied it out loud.

"Why don't you prove it, Snape!" Alice Longbottom dared. Gryffindoor foolery...

"Severus, do sit down and explain." Dumbledore said gently.

Severus didn't obey and instead pulled the rat's left sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark, which was still slightly sore because it had been only months since his marking. He smiled at the wide eyed overhearing spy of the Dark Lord.

"What...?" Potter said as Severus enjoyed his dumbfounded face, but he didn't concetrate on him too long, as he glanced at Lily. She returned the glance with a weak glare and Severus averted his eyes.

"Alastor, take Pettigrew and imprison him. We'll decide what to do with him after. Take his wand away as well, then come back." Dumbledore ordered and Moody disappaperated.

"Everyone, please take a seat." Dumbledore said and Severus sat where he was seated before, "Severus, how did you know?"

Now the hag was asking him questions in the presence of others? Irritation was definitely ruling Hogwarts today. How did he know? Severus was convinced Dumbledore knew the answer, but knowing Severus had partially lied to him while answering his question about Lily, he most likely wanted them never to rebuild...something.

"I attended his marking on October fifth, professor." Severus answered, sensing the disgust and disapproval radiated from Lily despite his tries at being polite.

"Of course you did, deatheater." Black whispered.

"Who are the other deatheaters you know of?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring the sentiments in theroomm in addition to Black's mutter.

"Not many. He kept our identies hidden from each other, in case if we were tortured to give up information, there would be none to give." Severus explained, "I was one of the few invited to the marking."

"I see. Was that the only marking you were invited to?" He asked.

"Yes, though I do know Bellatrix and Rodolphus are both deatheaters." Severus revealed. He didn't want anyone to know Lucius Malfoy was a deatheater...because he had done a lot for him, and on top of that, he had a pregnant wife. He didn't want to sell out Regulus either.

"Yeah, we already knew that!" Black exclaimed.

"There was only a possibility..." Remus corrected, "We have a confirmation now."

Dumbledore nodded. "Very well. I'd need all of you to leave...I have something to tell Severus."

Potter and Black sneered and left. The rest followed, but Longbottom. "When is the next meeting?"

"I'll contact Moody. He'll inform you." Dumbledore replied as Longbottom nodded and left.

"Severus, another condition is that you make us potions." Dumbledore said immediately after.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Fine, professor."

"I have a final question and a suggestion. Was that all of the task you recieved, or only half?" Dumbledore asked.

"...Half. I was supposed to kill both Lily and Longbottom's wife." Severus answered.

"Her name is Alice, Severus." Dumbledore 'corrected'.

He rolled his eyes once more, knowing Dumbledore already knew he knew her name. "What's the suggestion?"

"We're in need of spy." Dumbledore stated.

"I refuse to be your spy!" Severus exclaimed.

He would not become a spy. That would ruin every chance of renewing his friendship with Lily. He would need to face the consequences of his actions and Lily would be truly dead because he'd have to complete his task or someone else would. Hatred rotted the room of everything and anything, and painted everything in colors of loathing.

"No, you will not. I'd like you to be an Order Member as our potioneer." Dumbledore explained, "But firstly, you must capture a deatheater. I believe you knew Lucius Malfoy was a deatheater but refused to tell us due to your friendship. I'd need you to capture him and bring him here, because I'd like him to be a spy. Additionally, I'd like you to be a Potions Professor here. Do you agree Severus?"

Severus bit his lip. Being a spy would make Lucius's life problematic, but it was too late to do anything else if not go to Azkaban. "I need time to think on becoming a professor. Otherwise, I agree professor."

Trying to be a polite with the most irritating man would be a challenge.

"Call me Albus." Dumbledore said, and Severus found that phrase familiar. Or was it simply emotions tricking him?

"Goodbye Severus." Dumbledore said.

"Farewell, I suppose." Severus replied.

He'd been given a possibility for a chance in Lily's life..

—

Author's Note: Finally! Finished an extremely extended chapter. I wonder what will happen next...please review! I'll post again next week or sooner. Thank you for reading!