In The Life Of A Potions Master

Chapter 7

The sun was still low on the horizon as the small boats that held the Order of the Phoenix and ministry’s finest aurors made their way across the frozen sea to the fortress of Azkaban. This was supposed to be an impossible assault. It had been tried in the past and had ended in defeat. Now they had the edge. Unlike those who had come centuries ago, they knew how to enter the prison. They made no noise as the magic boats ferried them to a small outcrop of rocks on the west side of the imposing fortress.

Everyone was nervous as the made their way through the black waters. Most had their wands out and ready as they floated along. They were going slow trying not to make a sound. The rocks, Severus thought, just have to reach the rocks. It was ten more yards to the piles and they were out. Severus watched the battlements closely looking for any sign of movement. Just ten more yards, he told himself.

There was a sudden shout and a great glowing stag went galloping across the water. Severus turned quickly and looked. Dementors and lots of them were heading toward them. They glided across the calm surface of the sea with ease, floating toward them as they left the dark forest that surrounded the fighters cutting them off from their destination

Albus stood in his tiny boat. He looked like an old battle mage in his dark blue robes, his wand held high in the air. “CAST NOW! EXPECTO PATRONUM!”

The witches and wizards cast as one, Severus watched as the animals created of happiness ran down the black-cloaked devils. Albus’ phoenix, Harry’s stag, Hermione’s otter, his basilisk, and all the others. The luminescent animals rushed the dementors chasing them from sight.

Severus turned back to the battlements and smirked. They would have to lean over now to get a spell off. The boats bumped against the rocks and they quickly made their way out. They walked along the rocks silently until they reached the door. As Sirius had promised it was nothing more then a chute, but it was big enough for a body to pass through with out many problems though.

Severus had gone first, and now peered down the empty halls waiting for the worst. He was soon joined by Albus and Harry.

“Do you think they heard that, Severus?” Albus questioned.

“If they didn’t hear that they are sleeping, drunk, or dead,” Severus answered quietly.

“All right, Harry and I are going then. You will take the rest of the Order and the Aurors to find Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Keep them busy, Severus,” he patted Severus on the shoulder.

“Don’t take too long, old man.” He smirked at Albus and watched them run down the long hall and disappear around a corner. He only hoped it didn’t take them to long to dispose of the Dark Lord.

He watched as Kingsley climbed through the chute last. The large man needed two people to help him out. Severus looked at Hermione and she at him.

‘Do you think they know what will most likely happen, Love?’ Her voice echoed in his head.

‘Yes, I think they do,’ he returned. He looked around at the witches and wizards around him. “And if we’re going to die let’s raise hell and take them with us.” He spoke to the battle party, his voice a loud roar.

He spun quickly on his heels and drew his wand from his sleeve. With a great wave he blasted a large hole in the wall and started for it. Everyone followed behind him, blasting a path through the walls as they went. They met no Death Eaters on their path. This troubled Severus. With the noise they were making the whole lot of them should have charged in and yet, they were not here. It felt to him like an odd trap. They stopped and pulled out an old map; scanning it with his finger, he was sure they only needed to remove on more wall.

“Okay, here is where we change tactics.” He smirked and began to pull several long potions’ phials out of his cloak.

He took them and placed them against the wall, sticking them with spell-o-tape. It was quick work for his graceful hands and before long they were backing up and out the last hole. Severus smiled and pulled out one last phial. He looked around to make sure everyone was against the wall and threw it at the potion-laden wall. He quickly pressed his back to the wall as a deafening explosion tore through the room.

As one they moved out from their hide-away and into the destroyed room. They stopped dead in their tracks at the sight that greeted them. Lord Voldemort sat on a thrown of Death Eaters. The seat was constructed of all his servants--hundreds of Death Eaters gave the seat form. Severus could see that most of them were still alive, but he wasn’t sure for how long. Tendrils of energy, their life force, their very souls were draining from each Death Eater and flowing into Voldemort.

Hermione made the first move. She pulled a phial from her robes and lobbed it at Voldemort. The delicate crystal broke on contact and the fluid spread quickly over his body. Smoke crept into the air as the acidic liquid burnt away at his skin.

“Start casting now! We have to keep him off balance!” Hermione Screamed.

Severus suddenly fell to the floor, a blue energy ribbon extending from him to Voldemort. Hermione suddenly saw images flashing through her mind. They were coming quickly, so fast she couldn’t see them; she just knew what they were. They showed the dreams and the pains of his life. They showed her, and the pains of her life. Her mind was flooded with his life, his whole life. She could see blurry images of his mother changing is diaper, and visions of him as a child. She could hear his pained screams in her mind and knew his mind was opened to her. Truly opened for the first time.

It was showing her every thing Voldemort had planned, but more importantly they showed their joys, their happiness. The times they had spent together, all the happy times they shared. Hermione screamed as she saw Severus’ energy ribbon stop and move to her. It was no longer a ribbon but a bright blue ball of crackling energy.

‘I love you.’ She heard his voice; it was soft and weak. She could never remember hearing him sound like that.

The glowing ball of energy floated to her. It connected with her chest and was absorbed. She felt no pain from its contact. It was warm and welcomed, like a hug from an old friend after a long absence. The images stopped coming and her mind was calm.

She felt the hum of magic around her. More powerful then she could ever remember. It was a part of her, the flows of the magic in the room wrapped around her. She could feel the energy fill her. She saw Severus’ body. He had stopped breathing. He was still and lifeless.

She felt a surge of anger. It became a part of her; it flowed through her very core and consumed her. She hated the dark wizard who had caused so much pain. More than that, though, she wanted to see him dead. Destroyed, beaten, she wanted to take his power from him and leave him helpless. She wanted to see him beg for his life before this day was done.

The air around her cracked with ozone. Her hair flew wildly in the air as light began to form at her feet. Her eyes started to glow white and she began to float toward Voldemort. The Dark Lord was tossed away from her, but she continued toward the dark wizard. The Dark Lord was held in the air, Hermione well within reach of his cold-scaled hands.

She began to throw punches and kicks, each one connecting with a sickening squish. The crack of bones could be heard clearly over the screams of the dark wizard. Bone would pierce his skin just to heal over again. The damage he took was quickly being replaced by cold gray flesh, rotted and dead. His true form became more unveiled with every moment. The undead form he had chosen became prominent as his body became a disgusting site of death… Hermione’s attacks just kept coming though, no matter how often the damage disappeared. She was like a robot each blow came without thought and with deadly precision.


Albus and Harry followed the old wizard’s wand. It was floating ahead of them its tip glowing as they made their way through the dark halls. They found themselves in front of the very door Severus and his team were supposed to have gone through.

“It doesn’t look like they made it, does it, sir?” Harry asked.

“No, it doesn’t. We still have to go through,” Albus took his wand from the air and waved it at the door.

They pushed it open and entered the room. It was in a complete shambles. The walls were torn, broken glass lay everywhere. Much to their happiness the Order was there. They looked around and understood the shocked looks on their comrade’s faces. Severus lay on the floor not breathing and Hermione was flying around the room locked in combat with Voldemort.

She was throwing punches and kicks with unnatural speed. Light seeped from her body; it felt like pure, good energy and yet it was full of anger. Voldemort swept his wand through the air and began to cast a spell but Hermione waved her hand and he stopped. His wand split in two pieces and fell to the ground. The Phoenix feather burst into flame and left a pile of ash, and to Albus’ astonishment a small egg. She began her assault anew and before long all could see the Dark Lord bound in the powers of his own magic. The more he fought the tighter the bindings grew.

A green light shot from Albus’ wand to the Death Eater throne and he and Harry made quickly for it. Albus knew it had to be the Death Eaters. Voldemort must have turned his own followers into his power base.

“Sir, there is nothing here… It’s the Death Eaters isn’t it?” Albus nodded as he looked at the helpless followers of the Dark Lord.

“We have to kill them quickly!” Albus cast the first killing curse as a tear ran into his long white beard. Such needless death and suffering, it was a high price to pay, their lives for peace. Albus knew that this night would change everything and part of him rejoiced at that. But another part was saddened by the waste of it all.

The throne broke apart, the Death Eaters being thrown through the room. They stood quickly and Albus started casting spells in quick repetition. The famed wizard who was feared by dark wizards took the place of the kindly Headmaster as he worked deadly magic’s. He was soon followed by the rest of the room, Order members and Death Eaters alike. The battle had begun.

The members of the Order fought hard casting curses as quickly as they could. They split into their assigned teams and engaged the Death Eaters. Each member was like three with their precision and each team like nine. The Death Eaters fought much the same three and four to a group. The spells and hexes were flying through the air like flocks of birds. Nobody was sure of who was left save their own small teams. Harry and Albus were casting the Killing Curse from behind a turned over table. The Weasley’s were clustered together throwing curses from behind pillars along the back wall. Kingsley, Minerva and Tonks were behind a pile of rubble protecting Harry and Albus’ backs.

Albus smiled at Harry. “Time for that surprise my boy. Dobby, NOW!”

The room was full of smoke clouds as an army of house-elves appeared. They immediately joined the battle throwing former masters around like rag dolls, the people who had hated and despised them. Beaten and belittled them. Had taken them for all they were worth and then threw them away like old newspapers. The elves channeled their rage at those who had made their lives of service lives of hell.

The Order was still out numbered, but the Death Eaters were falling quickly. The bodies of the fallen littered the floor in a dismal array of pain and release. The pain was on the behalf of the order; the Death Eaters were being ruthless as ever with their applications of Crucio and other dark spells. The Death Eaters felt their release with their deaths. With their spell they where freed from the dark binds of Voldemort’s spell with their death. It had become a twisted battle as one side was saddened at death and the other overjoyed.

The house-elves were proving to be a great ally and before long had used their magic to help dispose of their former owners. Albus couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. Former servants come to seek revenge. However, the most amusing part was that house-elves were unable to take a life. They were reduced thusly to uncovering their enemies’ positions.

They did so mercilessly; summoning armies of spiders and rats to their aid. Using cleaning charms to remove debris piles to give clear shots to the Aurors and Order members. Albus smiled at the truly remarkable creatures.
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Perhaps had they been respected and treated kindly, the elves would have never joined the fight. Perhaps if they had seen kindness from those that had been their masters they would have fought against the Order. But Albus was glad to see them get a small piece of closure with their former lords, to see them looked upon as more then slaves. The elves were free. They were proud. It was a truly magnificent site.

Hermione couldn’t see, she couldn’t hear. She knew she was moving, but she didn’t know where. All of her senses seemed to be gone, as if she wasn’t inside of herself. She felt warm though. Safe, protected, it was as if she was safe in her bed curled up with Severus.

On the outside she was safe as well. Her body was like that of an Amazon. She was quick and lethal; any Death Eater that got in her way found a quick death, and the Order members gave her a clear path.

Voldemort couldn’t move, his body was broken; even the healing powers of a lich were of no help for him now. The damage Hermione was dealing was coming too quickly and he had no time to mend. He felt weak and could see why; over half of his Death Eaters lay dead and the number was growing quickly.

Hermione landed a solid kick to his head causing his skull to crack. They both fell to the floor. Hermione was unconscious, her energy gone. Voldemort was broken and beaten, he could no longer see, he could only smell his own blood and his ears were ringing loudly.

Harry saw Hermione fall and made to go to her. Albus quickly pulled him back behind the table and into safety.

“She will be fine, Harry; we need to finish this first or Voldemort will heal himself and all will be lost.” But even Albus was worried about her. She had done so much today he thought she may have used all of her energy.

The battle continued for ten more minutes until there where only three Death Eaters left. They were huddled behind a pile of their former comrades throwing curses. It was their last stand and they were making a feeble attempt at it.

Harry and Albus watched as they exposed themselves to cast a curse and then hid again. They were coming fully up becoming completely exposed before they cast their curses. Harry and Albus took a knee and waited for them to stand to cast their next curse. When they did, Harry quickly killed two of them and Albus the last.

It felt cold to Harry, as if it wasn’t him casting the curses to take a life. He walked to the bodies of the last three Death Eaters and removed their masks. They were people underneath, Bellatrix Lestrange, Peter Petigrew, and Macnair. They were people, they were living people and he had killed them. He felt nothing though, he thought he should at least feel bad but he felt nothing. They were the enemy and he did what he had to do. Nothing more. So why did he feel so empty.

Harry watched as the energy ribbon flowed away from the last Death Eaters. It was so odd to think that it was over. He watched it move to Voldemort in slow motion. He was unsure of how long it took; he could have been standing there for seconds or days. Time ran together in a slow steady flow that didn’t seem to include him. The last energy ribbon dwindled away and all the Death Eaters were dead their last energies destroyed.

A foul smell started to fill the room as Voldemort’s body began to decay. The many wounds inflicted started to reopen and blood poured from his body. His voice echoed through what was left of his body as he screamed out in pain as his body fell away leaving an empty skeleton slowly turning to dust. An unearthly wind blew though the room carrying the dying scream away with it and scattering the dust that was once the Dark Lord across the empty floor. The room started to smell of old death, sickeningly sweet. It was over powering and the Order members fought to not vomit. They quickly grabbed Severus and Hermione and carried their limp bodies from the room and into the hallway.

They laid their bodies side by side. Hermione was barely breathing and Severus was not breathing at all.

As the echo of Lord Voldemort’s final scream faded Hermione spasmed, a ball of crackling energy glowing bright blue floated from her to Severus. He jerked awake, his eyes flying open and settling on Hermione. She opened her eyes and looked at him then stopped breathing. Her eyes glazed over, as she was lost to the world. Severus screamed, a long loud piercing scream, it shook the walls of the dark fortress as his grief tore through him.


It had taken the Aurors and Order members sometime to clear the room. The death toll of the battle was heavy. It turned out to be heavier then anyone had thought. Albus, Harry, Severus, and Kingsley sat in Albus’ office listening to Arthur Weasley read off the list of dead. They hadn’t even realized anyone had fallen in the heat of things. They each remembered how sobering it was to look over the field of battle and see bodies of friends mixed in with their fallen enemies. Albus shook his head he couldn’t remember seeing anyone fall during the battle. It was as if the fates decided they needed to pay a price for their freedom, for the end to darkness.

“Neville Longbottom killed in combat. Parvati Patil, killed in combat. Susan Bones, missing presumed dead. Sturgis Podmore, killed by falling debris. Ronald Weasley killed in combat. Molly Weasley,” Arthur’s voice broke, he took a few deep breaths and continued, “killed in combat. Hermione Snape, killed in combat. Minerva McGonagall, missing presumed dead. Remus Lupin, missing presumed dead. And Rubeus Hagrid, missing presumed dead.” Arthur fell into the chair behind him and reached for his glass of Old Ogden’s; he quickly drained the glass and poured another.

Dumbledore stood up and raised his glass. “Here’s to our lost friends and loved ones may they find peace and happiness.” Every one drained their glass and Albus continued. “I have been asked to inform you all that Cornelius Fudge has been removed as Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones will be taking the position. Arthur, you will be leading the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, congratulations.

“I would also like to announce that as of today Severus Snape is now Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have decided to retire and he has agreed to take the position.”

Everyone looked wide-eyed from Albus to Severus. They congratulated Severus and left. Albus looked at Severus and smiled.

“Well, my boy, I am going to pack so you can prepare your office,” he turned and picked up his hat and his wand. “There, we are all ready.”

“Albus, you have left everything else here,” Severus stated with some amusement.

“You will understand soon my boy, you will understand soon.” Albus left the office with a small wink.

Severus began to pace his new office. He half listened to the portraits as they offered their welcomes. It was odd the way he felt, it was as if he could see a light at the end of a long dark path. He didn’t feel it should be there, though. He had lost Hermione and everyone else who had ever called him friend. Even Albus was leaving and through some twist of fate he was going to stay at this school with all of its dunderheaded students.

He sat behind his new desk and cried. This was all so familiar and not. He had lost people in his life before. Although, somehow this didn’t hurt like he thought it should. It all felt so empty. A victory without the cheers of the crowd upon the return home, a war that never ended, just kept going on forever with nothing but death and loss.

He got up from his chair and began the work at hand. He made changes to the office by adding some of his possessions to the cluttered mix. He cleared out Albus’ clothes and packed them neatly away for the old wizard. He cleared out his chambers and made them ready for his replacement. And he cried. He cried every time he touched a piece of Hermione. Her clothes, her hairbrush, even her old bandy legged cat.

He went about his work a soggy mess. He cried when he thought about Minerva and how he was going to have to find a replacement for her classes. He drank when he thought of Hagrid and Remus; the two men would have been invaluable to him during this change. He screamed when he thought about Neville and how good he had become at potions after his fifth year. He even thought he would have been good enough to become Hogwarts next Potions master given a little push.

In the end he had drank two bottles of whisky and passed out at his desk. His mind still on those he had lost. In the end he passed out slumped in his chair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione sat in Poppy’s office she had been feeling sick all night. She wasn’t sure if it had been the cold or just pre-battle jitters. However, after she had woken from the latest dream she had made a trip to the bathroom. After her third trip to throw up, she had decided she would have to wake Poppy and see what was going on.

The medi-witch had done several tests and so far told Hermione nothing. It was rather irritating to her not to be told what was happening. She didn’t think that Poppy would keep anything from her, but she was sure she wasn’t telling her something.

Poppy came in smiling, “Well, dear, I have good news! You are pregnant.”

Hermione stared blankly at the older witch, “Excuse me, did you say pregnant?”

“Yes, dear, I did,” she answered with a chuckle.

“But how, we use the potion, and Severus uses a charm on himself?”

“You silly, kids, does he know you are using a contraceptive potion?” Hermione shook her head. “Well, they cancel each other out, just so you know for the future.”

Hermione blinked, stared, blinked some more, and then started to laugh. She looked at Poppy and just cackled.

“Oh shit, I guess I need to go have a little talk with Severus,” she laughed even harder after she said his name.

It took some time before Poppy managed to calm down Hermione. She still giggled every so often but at least she wasn’t rolling around like some strange hyena. Poppy gave Hermione a list of potions she would need and gave her a potion for the nausea before sending her on her way.

Hermione entered her chambers and snuck to bed. Severus was sound asleep and looking so peaceful. She thought it oddly cute the way his hair always fell into his eye. She brushed the stray lock back and kissed his forehead. She was amazed when he didn’t wake up.

She giggled as she heard him muttering about hair care. She knew what he was dreaming about. Parvati and Lavander had decide she needed a surprise make over one night. It had been a torturous four hours of hair pulling, make-up and manicuring. However, Hermione grinned to herself, the next day Severus had given her, her first real kiss. She decided to wait till after the battle to tell him. He needed to keep his mind focused for tomorrow anyway.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus shot out of his chair; he became awake all at once. His senses came to him in a heartbeat and he knew his dreams were over. He knew that all that was left to him was but a nightmare. He was furious at the turn his life had now taken. He grabbed a pillow and threw it at the wall. It wasn’t satisfying enough though. He stalked through his new office picking up the odd item and throwing it to the floor. It was therapeutic in an odd way. He was starting to understand the appeal of trashing the headmaster’s office.

He was so fed up with life at the moment, and it seemed it was going to stay that way. ‘Now Voldemort’s revenge had to be complete,’ he thought. He had lost his wife, his friends, and worse-- he lost his child. A child he had found out about through a drunken vision while he sat passed out at a desk that was now his that he didn’t want. Every thing was gone, even a child he had never been allowed to care for. He hadn’t even gotten a chance to meet the little one before it was snuffed out of existence.

Two hours passed quietly as he watched the office repair itself. He was annoyed that his destruction didn’t stay to comfort him longer but at least he wouldn’t lose anything priceless.

He found he felt odd. He felt no loss with Hermione’s parting. He felt as though she was sitting with him. He had felt the same when he had woken from his nightmare. He couldn’t explain it but it felt as if she was still sitting in his class with her hand waving in the air. Or sitting in his chambers talking about potions until they found they would be late for classes. It felt as if she was standing at the altar gazing into his eyes and smiling at him.

He still remembered how he felt that day. He had been so nervous about what was to come. But when he had seen her smile it had all gone away. The glow about her had set his mind at ease. He even had to be truthful with himself. The day Draco had enlarged her teeth he had seen no difference. He had still seen the lovely girl he so desired to watch grow. He had wanted to watch her grow to a charming witch and a sharp mind. Someone he could call a friend and have long talks with. He wouldn’t fool himself by saying he loved her then. But he had seen past her imperfections. He hadn’t seen them, not for a lack of want, he just never noticed them.

He was taken from his musings by a sharp knock on the door. He rubbed his eyes with the pads of his thumbs and looked at the grandfather clock set against one of the walls. It was well past three in the morning; what bloody idiot would be here now, he thought to himself.

“Enter,” his voice didn’t have its normal ring, it was tired and withdrawn.

Albus stepped through the door and Severus sighed. At least it wasn’t something he needed to handle. He hated the idea of leaving the solitude of this office at the moment.

“Severus, I just thought I would come and see how you were doing in your new surroundings.” Severus was suddenly worried, Albus’ eyes, weren’t twinkling they were in a full out glow. More over, who would come to see how someone was at this ungodly hour. He was up to something and Severus meant to find out what.

“I am fine for the moment. Just what is it I can do for you, Albus?” He would have to play this game to find out anything, he knew that, but it just wasn’t fun like it used to be.

“Well, I wanted to ask if you have had anymore dreams of late.” The bloody old man still knew everything. Severus began to wonder if that was just Albus or if as Headmaster he would develop the same abilities in time. It was still damn annoying.

“Yes, I had one. That would be why I answered the door. You see it isn’t often that I sit up at… three-eleven in the morning and ponder the meaning of the wood grain of this lovely desk. I usual sit up at this hour and ponder just how drunk I can get in twenty minutes to allow me to pass out for the remainder of the night. But seeing as you have decided to grace me with your presence, I shall rejoice for I will be blessed with your wonderful voice, and always aggravating presence.” He smirked to himself; it was sarcastic enough to make him look well in control. That was important when he felt like the world was trying to crush his spirit.

“Not quite as scathing as usual, old boy.”

’Damn him,’ Severus thought.

“But points for trying. Do you mind if I cast a spell on you, it will complete the cycle and you will have no more dreams?”

“They are not dreams, most of them are nightmares, Albus. And I don’t think you understand, they are her memories, something that I can keep of her. Something that I can hold on to. I’m… I’m not ready to let that go.” He looked down to his lap, he wasn’t ready to let the dreams go, if he did she would really be gone.

“Severus, my dear boy, if you have the last of the dreams you will start to dream your own, to relive your memories of her, your not going to lose anything.” he looked into the face of his former pupil, “ I promise.”

Severus met Albus’ eyes and knew he was telling the truth. “What was the purpose of that spell to begin with, it is a nasty curse to put on anyone?”

“You don’t understand do you? It’s not a curse my boy, it’s a blessing. The spell was created over two hundred years ago when more of the old ways were followed. When a couple had an arranged marriage the spell was cast on them so they could get to know one another before they were married. If they found a just reason why they should not be wed the marriage arrangement was forfeit. However, if they did not, they were wed, and it was as if this person was an old friend. You knew their lives, the happy times and sad. It made for long lasting marriages that were far happier then before the spells creation.”

“You mean it is a binding spell, one that helps the two people to get to know each other. But, then I shouldn’t be having these dreams anymore, Albus. I should be free of them. Hermione is dead, Albus, she is gone, there is no one to whom I am bound anymore.” His black eyes glazed as tears fell swiftly down his cheeks and he began to throw old candies at the daft man in front of him. “Don’t you see, Albus, I am free. I am finally free. I am free of Voldemort and his hate. I am free of you and your friendship. And I am free of Hermione and her love. So you tell me, Albus Dumbledore, you tell me how I can still be tortured after all my bonds are broken.”

He cracked and he knew it. He was throwing lemon drops at one of his oldest friends with every word that left his mouth. Albus sat there calmly letting him vent. But Severus could no longer stop himself. He had lost his control, the one thing he clinged to when all else was failing him.

“YOU TELL ME, OLD MAN! YOU TELL ME WHY MY LIFE HAS TO BE ONE TORMENT AFTER ANOTHER TORMENT! YOU TELL ME WHY EVERYONE I HAVE EVER CARED FOR IS GONE! HERMIONE, MINERVA, LUPIN, HAGRID, EVEN LONGBOTTOM! WHO WILL I BLAME FOR POTIONS MISTAKES NOW? HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT, I TELL YOU! AND NOW, NOW YOU LEAVE! MY LAST FRIEND -- GONE!” Severus sank to the floor, the candy dish falling first and scattering lemon drops everywhere. He sat huddled in a ball unleashing years of hurt.

Albus stood and went to him, groaning as he lowered himself to the floor. He put his arm around him and let him cry. He was so reminded of the night he had returned from his first revel. He had cried then to. Damn me and the mistakes I have made, Albus thought.

There were so many things he wished he could change. So many things he wished he had told everyone. So many things he wished he had done for this broken wizard. He stood up abruptly pulling his wand from his sleeve. Severus felt his mind fog and his eyes felt heavy. Next thing he was asleep. Albus patted his old friends shoulder. The events of tonight would either bring him happiness or expand his pain. Albus frowned, one way or the other he had to try to make amends for his friend.