A Gift

Yes, i finally put up a new chapter! YEAH!!!! LOL My son is doing much better but I\'ve had other crisis happen lately so it took me a bit to get this here....had it written, just didn\'t have a chance to put it up. Sorry! Again, I don\'t own a damned thing that is in the Potter books. If I did, I would be rich as hell and not writing here...::smirks::: LOVE YOU ALL ANYWAY!!!! :: smoooooches:::

He had spent the day out riding, getting the thoughts of Hermione out of his head. When he finally comes back to the cottage, it is late afternoon and his body aches from the saddle. As he opens the door, a barn owl wings in and lands on the back of the couch by the fire. He frowns, walking over and taking the letter on it\'s leg before shooing it back out the door.
He opens it, searching for any deadly charms or poisons that might have been added. His eyes scan the message, his frown deepening. \"Bloody hell!\" He growls out, kicking a table over in anger.

The sound of something crashing bring her right out of her sleep. She immediately sits up, looking around for the source of the sound. She jumps of the bed and heads for the door, hearing a loud curse from downstairs. She flings open the door and races down the stairs. She stops on the last step, eyes wide at seeing Snape sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.
\"Are you ok?\" She whispers softly.
He lifts his head, his eyes suddenly showing the lack of sleep he has had over the years. \"Whatever makes you think that, Miss Granger?\" His voice drips with sarcasm as he stands, throwing floo powder into the fire. \"Albus Dumbledore\"
The flames turn green and the Headmaster\'s head appears. \"Do you think this is wise calling me, Severus?\"
\"I do not have much of a choice.\" He tosses the letter into the flames. \"Miss Granger has been spotted and she has been mistaken for Sabine.\"
The Headmaster\'s eyes scan the letter. \"I see.\"I d"I don\'t think you do, Headmaster.\" He growls out angrily. \"Sabine is dead. Apparently that information has not leaked yet. If it had, Miss Granger and I would be dead already.\"
\"I do believe I understand the situtation, Severus.\" He looks up and over at Hermione. \"And I believe we must explain this as well to Hermione.\"
Snape spins on his heel, the implications finally dawning on him. \"You can\'t mean to have her pose as Sabine.\"
\"I do.\" Albus, nods to Hermione. \"But I will let you handle that. Let me know how it goes.\" His head disappears.
She watches them quietly, her curiousity growing with each second. When the Headmaster disappears, she finally speaks up. \"Who\'s Sabine?\"
His face contorts in fury. \"I do not want to hear that name in my presence again!\"
She stares at him in shock, unsure of why one name would bring him to such a state. \"Fine!\" She snaps back, heading back up the stairs to her room.
\"Impudent little...\" He stops himself, closing his eyes and forcing himself to calm down. He reaches out, grasping the arm of the couch as he slowly collapses into it. His hands scrub at his face, weariness suddenly making him feel years far older than he is. With a soft sigh, he opens his eyes and stares into the fire. \"Not rushing up there to tell her my life story?\"
Sarah glides out of the darkness, a bit of sadness and anger mixing in her expression. \"No, Sabine is your tale to tell.\" His eyes flick towards her, glaring at her for saying that hated name. She lifts a brow, her voicing dripping with sarcasm. \"Oops. I\'m sorry. I forgot her name is forbidden now.\" She starts to fade, her eyes never leaving her grandson. \"Tell this story, Severus. Every bit of it. Even the reason for silencing her.\"
He watches her as she fades to nothing, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He surges to his feet, walking out of the house and onto the lawns. His feet move by instinct as his mind wanders down a dark path of the past.