A/N: No reviews for the last chapter :( *buries her head in her hands and cries* Is anyone still reading this? Reviews are half the fun in an author's life, so whether you like the story or not, I want to know! *peeks out from between her fingers* Pretty please?

The school year was drawing to a close, and since Snape still sometimes found Crabbe or Goyle or both stationed outside the Room of Requirement, he could safely guess that Draco had not yet completed the task he had set himself out to do. He did not complain, of course, as the longer Draco took, the more time he gave him and Miss Lovegood to spend together. Still, since the Dark Lord wanted Dumbledore out of the way before the summer holidays, it was clear they now had only a couple of weeks left at the most, whether Draco succeeded or not. It was therefore with a heavy heart that he trudged up to the room these days, knowing any meeting could very well be their last. Miss Lovegood, observant as always, naturally did not miss his unusual taciturnity, and it was only thanks to repeating all the goals he still had to meet in his head like a mantra that he resisted the temptation to end up in her arms again, possibly spilling Dumbledore's whole plan in the process.

And then the dreaded day arrived. If he had been expecting some kind of warning of what was to happen, none ever came. One moment he was sitting in his office, the next Filius Flitwick burst in, shouting that Death Eaters had somehow infiltrated the castle and that he was to come and join the other teachers in fighting them. Thinking fast, Snape Stupefied the poor man before he realised what was happening. He knew his priority was to find Draco as fast as possible, and it would not do to have Filius on his heels to hold him up. What he did not count on, however, was finding Miss Granger and Miss Lovegood outside his office as he dashed out, though he faltered for only a moment before telling them that Filius had collapsed and that they were to tend to him while he hurried to help his colleagues in the fight. Miss Granger obeyed immediately but Miss Lovegood chose to hang back.

"They won't hurt you, will they?" she asked, looking anxious. "Since they think you're really on their side?"

He shook his head. "Have no fear, Miss Lovegood, I assure you I will be all right. However, it is your safety I am concerned about, so I beg you, stay in my office and do not leave it until the fight is over. Can you promise me that?"

"But Harry-"

"Potter will be all right too, I will see to it myself. Please, Miss Lovegood, just do as I say. This is absolutely not the time for discussions."

To his relief, she finally nodded. "OK, Professor. I promise."

"Thank you." And, on a sudden impulse, he added, "For everything," before inclining his head to her and breaking into a run.

Though the need for action was causing his body to be driven mainly by adrenaline, with emotions locked in a place where they could not bother him, the unexpected conversation still shook him deeply. He did not know why the two girls had been hanging around his office, but he was certain that Miss Lovegood was the last person he would have wished to meet at such a moment. On the one hand he was glad that he had been given a chance to say a goodbye of sorts, but on the other it was obvious that killing Dumbledore would now be that much harder with Miss Lovegood's face swimming before his eyes. If only she knew what he was about to do, she would never have worried about his safety, he was sure of that. Instead, she would have looked at him with revulsion, perhaps even wished him harm. He would not have blamed her.

Before he reached the thick of the battle that was raging on the upper floors of the castle, however, he resolutely pushed all thoughts of Miss Lovegood right out of his mind. He could not afford to be weak, not now when so much was at stake. Ducking a badly aimed curse, he spotted a barrier blocking the stairs leading to the Astronomy Tower, and knew immediately that that was where he needed to go. He rushed through the barrier as if it was not there, his Dark Mark allowing him to pass. He was certain he would not be followed, except by other Death Eaters, but he still took the steps two at a time, hoping that he was not too late, that Draco had not, against his expectations, done the deed himself.

Luckily, when he finally reached the ramparts, he found Dumbledore still alive, though slumped against the wall as if he was too weak to stand. There were four Death Eaters grouped around him in a semi-circle, in the middle of which stood Draco, his wand pointed at the Headmaster. His face was as white as chalk, and his hand was shaking so badly it was a wonder he was still able to keep a hold on his wand at all. He had been right: the boy did not have the makings of a murderer. This was instantly confirmed by one of the Death Eaters, who had just started asking Snape what was to be done when Dumbledore himself spoke, so softly his voice sounded more like a whisper.

"Severus..."

Snape flinched at the sound of his name; it was as if reality had finally caught up with him, as if he had only now truly realised what he was expected to do. Looking into his mentor's familiar blue eyes, he could feel his carefully cultivated resolve disappearing as if by magic. Now that it came down to it, he suddenly doubted whether he himself would be able to finish what Draco could not. What kind of monster would he have to be to kill the man who had given him a second chance when no one else would, without whom he would surely have been rotting in Azkaban? The man who had been like a second father to him? The man thanks to whom he had not given up on Miss Lovegood and thus discovered the meaning of true friendship? How could he ever have thought he would have the strength to end the life of someone who had given him so much? What use was knowing that it would help that someone avoid a long and painful death brought about by the spreading curse in their hand? Murder was still murder, no matter how he looked at it, and it would be his conscience that would be burdened by it for the rest of his life. Was it not only natural, then, that his mind was screaming in protest at the prospect?

Overcome with desperation, he searched the scene for anything that would save him from having to cast that fatal spell, perhaps a stray bolt of lightning that would just strike Dumbledore down, but of course that was just wishful thinking on his part. Dumbledore was still there, as were the four Death Eaters and Draco, all watching him expectantly. If he did not act fast, word would reach the Dark Lord that he had wavered, seeding doubt in his mind about his loyalty. If only he could raise his wand, but his hand felt as heavy as if it was made of lead.

Perhaps Dumbledore had sensed his hesitation, for at that moment he spoke his name once more, this time in a voice that was loud and firm.

"Severus ... please..."

Despite the formulation, clearly used to deceive those around them, Snape easily deciphered it for what it really was: an order. Being used to following Dumbledore's orders almost all his life, it was exactly what he needed to forget his scruples and do what had to be done. And so, with a hand that was completely steady, he finally aimed his wand straight at Dumbledore's chest and then uttered the words which he would never again be able to take back, words that would forever brand him as a murderer.

"Avada Kedavra!"