Unfinished Symphony

Author: Roisin
Title: Unfinished Symphony
Pairing: Severus Snape/ Harry Potter
Rating: R/NC17
Disclaimer: Only story is mine, rest © JKR. No Profit is being made

Please Review!!!

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I wandered down the cold corridors to the dungeons. Why Dumbledore wanted to meet me in Snapes office I had no idea. Just so long as Snape wasn\'t there. But that was a stupid thought, of course Snape would be there, it was his office. Slowly, filled with a sense of dread, I knocked heavily three times upon the door that led off from the cold, barren corridor to Snapes office. The sight of glasses upon shelves was, at first, the only thing I saw, it wasn\'t until a small cough was uttered by the Head Master that I turned to the two men who awaited me.

\"Your late Potter.\" Snarled Snape at me, his sneer too pronounced now in the flickering light from the candles that lit the room.

\"Do take a seat Harry.\" The weathered tones of Albus Dumbledore chimed out into the atmosphere.

The only spare seat in the room was next to Snape, so I took it very reluctantly, almost offering to stand. However I had just returned from Quidditch practice, having just enough time to have taken a shower and get changed before coming down, so I was very tired. I tried to keep as mush distance between Snape and myself as I could, neither wanting or daring to get too close to the man. Dumbledore watched us, seeming to disapprove of our attitudes towards each other. We both waited.

\"I have received intelligence\" Dumbledore began; those sharp, twinkling eyes\'s flickering between Snape and myself. \"From the Ministry of Magic. As you both know, we have believed Voldemort to have been exceptionally quiet for a long time, now it has transpired as to why.\"

This news obviously startled Snape.

\"Not been paying enough attention Professor?\" I couldn\'t help myself

\"I\'d watch your step, Potter, or I shall be removing points from Gryffindor\" He responded

I glared, hard, at his pallid face. So be it, it would be worth it. Dumbledore was watching us intently again, as if trying to work something out.

\"It has been found that, under the name of Lucius Malfoy, Voldemort has been working in the research of weapons of mass destruction. As there is magic involved I\'m sure you can imagine the devastation that it will cause to both our world and the muggle world.\" He paused, letting the news sink in to us both. \"This, Harry, is your time.\"

I froze. My time, but it was so sudden, just after the Christmas break. No. And why was Snape here? Did he know what Dumbledore meant? I risked a glance over at the man. He was watching Dumbledore with one brow raised in his usual sneer. It was hard to tell if he knew or not. It was hard to tell anything other than hate with him.

\"I have asked the Ministry if I may send two representatives to the scene, in the belief that they will be able to sort out what is happening there. The Ministry agreed.\" He finished with a very intense glance at us both, making it very clear who he meant. I sighed.

\"Surely, Headmaster, you do not expect us to leave on a dangerous mission in the middle of a term?\" I had to admit Snape had a point.

\"Yes, Severus, I do. It is the only way to finish this war, and for us all to be free.\" Dumbledore responded.

I never thought that I had anything to be free of, surely he had meant Snape. But why did he turn that gaze on me? Then again, Dumbledore could be very strange, you could never be sure of what he was thinking.

\"Why are you sending Snape with me?\" I couldn\'t help it, I had to ask.

\"I\'ve warned you about that tongue Potter. I am to be adressed as Professor Snape.\" Snapes oily voice matched the sneer on his features and the state of his hair.

Dumbledore was watching us again with that scrutinising look.

\"Beacuse, Harry, Severus\" He seemed to make a large point of calling Snape Severus \"Has the required knowledge to accomplish the task of disarming the weapons\"

\"Then the weapons are built?!\" I blurted out.

\"Yes Harry I believe some are in their final stages of completion.\" Dumbledore looked tired and worn again as he spoke.

I gaped, if there were some near to completion he could start attacks almost immediately.

\"So this is why we must leave immediately, Head Master?\"

\"Yes Severus, It is.\"

Snape had almost chocked at his words, and I glanced at him. He looked even more sallow than usual, if that was possible. It was as if he had blood under that pallid flesh, although I was almost convinced at this point that any such observations could not have been possible about the Hogwarts Potions Master, but obviously it was. I\'d never seen him look so bad; I was shocked to find myself scowling in concern.

\"But surely it couldn\'t be as bad as the Unforgivable curses, which he uses almost every day?\"

I was puzzled. We were still facing Voldemort, and he was still going to kill people. We were going to stop it. I just couldn\'t figure out Snapes reaction.

\"And what if you aren’t killed in the blast Potter? If you are left suffering at the edge of the devastation, crushed and unable to move under piles of rubble. And that with only the bomb. He\'s added a potion to the bomb matter so that no one can escape. The only potion of that nature that would require me along to attend to it is...\" Snape broke off, drawing a haggard breath. \"Is the Morte Aeternam Potion. There is no cure, no coming round; its blast covers double the range of the carrier blast. It is absorbed through the skin, breathed in with that air, it will infect through the water, through any food that is exposed to the air. Heat and cold have no effect. I sharnt go into the details of the symptoms.\"

His eyes were as closed as mine were wide open. Never had I imagined a potion of this type. Why would one be developed? More importantly why did he know of it, why did it have this effect on him? These were puzzling thoughts, but I didn’t permit myself to dwell on them, there were other questions to be asked. Snape, however, got there first. He sounded resigned, as if he truly dreaded what lay ahead.

“When do we leave?”

Dumbledore was silent for a brief moment before he gave a small answer

“Today, professor Snape, today. I have arranged fo old old Pupil of yours, Smoke Jaecob, to cover your classes for you.” If possible it seemed that Albus was more tired than usual.

Snape nodded at the words, and as I watched him I remembered Smoke. He had played chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch team i my first year, which had been his last year. From what I remembered he was a strange boy, but very Slytherin.

“Yes, Smoke should do well in the post”

Even though his voice was strained I could tell that Snape agreed with Dumbledores choice, the thin line of his mouth wasn\'t turned into a frown or a sneer.

“What will we need?”

I had to ask this before Snape could get another question in, or some how make it seem like I didn’t want to go. I was in two minds about it really, on one hand I wanted to go, I wanted to repay Voldemort for all the pain he had inflicted upon others, all the suffering he had caused others. But then again, why was it me that had to do it? Why was I the one who had to carry the fate of the world? It was just so… so unfair. I had been so lost in these thoughts that I had missed most of my answer,

“Take your wand Harry, be ready to call Fawkes to you if you need to, and never give up.”

I nodded and rose, leaving the room. I was off to tell Hermione and Ron what was happening, to get them to come along. I didn’t want to be alone with Snape. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.

“Potter.” How I hated those oily vocals “Remember there can just be us that go, you and me. Tell your two little friends if you must, but they can not come. Be in the Entrance hall in one hour.”

I scowled, and began to formulate some kind of scathing response. But I never got a chance top deliver it, as Snape twisted and vanished in a whirl of robes. My turn was less elegant, but just as swift as I headed for the common room. Ron and Hermione were waiting for me as I stormed through the portrait hole, and as there was, mercifully, no one else about I burst out into a tirade against the injustice of it all.

“I have to go away with SNAPE!” I was just about bellowing, and Hermione was all but hiding behind Ron, who looked like he wanted to hide behind Hermione. “They want me to go with Snape ALONE. To some unknown, god forsaken part of the world, without any chance of talking to anyone but HIM. We’re going to destroy some kind of weapons of Mass destruction.”

I moved to a chair and dropped ungracefully onto it, fuming silently, completely forgetting to mention Snapes strange reaction to potion.

“But Harry, how long will you be gone? You cant afford to miss too much of school.”

Hermiones voice calmed me. I remembered how Ron had commented, in our first year, about her priorities. It had only occurred to me recently that her confusion in priorities was a well-disguised way to show her deep concern for both of us. My rational side was returning to me, slowly but surely.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.” I answered truthfully. “But I think that Snapes looking forward to this even less than I am. He was so pale when we were in there and after we left.”

“I didn’t think he could get any paler than he already is.” Rons voice contained a small amount of surprise and laughter at that piece of new.

“What do you mean Harry?” Hermione had a thoughtful scowl on her face.

Deciding that it would be okay to tell them everything I did, including Snapes odd reaction to the potion, watching their faces eagerly to see if they could offer an explanation. Their looks only became more blank or confused, depending on who it was I was looking at. Ultimately neither of them could offer anything more than a poor hypothesis. I sighed, and got up, going to pack some clothes, tell Hedwig to stay here and say goodbye to her, and make sure I had all that I may need, as well as the photo of my Mom, Dad and Sirius.

“Where are you going?”

Ron was rising with me. “Are you leaving now? You’d better wait for us.”

“Yes, I’m going now, Ron, but I can’t take you and Hermione with me. I… I think we need to use stealth, and that means that there can only be the two of us who go.” My response was given with a heavy heart.

“But, Harry, Mate…” Great, now Ron was upset.

“I know, I know. I wish I could take both of you with me, but it’s not up to me.” I took them both in with those eyes that were my Mothers, or so I was told. Perhaps I was just James Potter with Lilly Potter’s eyes.

I didn’t hang about to hear their complaints or petitions, I just left. Better me telling them that Snape. I moved with what haste I could muster in my lack of enthusiasm, and long before I wanted to I had left the common room and was standing before the castle doors. Snape was there already. He gave me the special frown of dislike he reserved for Hermione, Ron and Myself and, without a word, exited the castle and entered the Thestral pulled coach. I followed him, and our journey began.

“Once we reach London we must blend in with the Muggles.”

His tone was clipped and short, but I didn’t even try to respond except to take the items of clothing he offered. It was a pair of fitted jeans, and a fitted top, new and in my size. I looked over at him, but didn’t say anything. His face was hard and closed, his cold black eyes staring out the window as we arrived at the station. Even on the journey on the Hogwarts express he didn\'t speak, though he did buy a chocolate frog from the tea lady.

Once in muggle London we bought tickets, or more accurately I bought tickets, to Newcastle station on a coach. Snape couldn’t quite get a grasp on the money. He did, however, blend in exceptionally well, for some one who was made to stick out. Where as I was dressed as a fashion conscious every day teenager Snape was dressed as what was commonly called a Goth. It suited him, the Jeans that showed off his long legs whilest still hiding them and the large, baggy t-shirt with a print of the grim reaper on it, set off by the black trench coat and the spiked collar. I would have commented on how appropriate it was, or asked who had got the clothes for us, if it weren’t for the daggers he kept shooting with his eyes at everyone that so much as glanced his way. I sighed. There were so many questions that I still needed to ask. Such as where we were going, and what was I to call him while we were here, as I doubted calling him Professor Snape would work very well. But we sat in silence on the bus while old men and woman chattered excitedly about us, planning on what they would do once they reached Newcastle. Visit the cathedral, the Castle, take a day trip to Durham and see the sights there. Go shopping at the Metro Centre. Perhaps go to see the Glassmaking in Sunderland and walk along the river wear. They would be doing that while I, well, Snape and myself, would be out saving their necks. They wouldn’t even know anything about it. I felt like standing on the uncomfortable seat and yelling to them all about the danger that threatened both their world and mine. But I didn’t.

Finally the bus drew to a stop in a bustling station and I was nudged to get up, Snapes scowl still firmly in place. We left the bus, got out without looking back, our robes having been left on the Hogwarts express with my trunk.

“We need to get to Boldon, you’re the one who knows about all this muggle stuff, how do we get there?” His voice was still cold, low and dangerous.

“Ask me politely, and I’ll get us there.” I said back, equally as dangerous.

Reflexively we both reached for our wands, but we didn’t grip them, we couldn’t in the centre of Muggle Newcastle.

“Fine, lets try this way.” And Snape set off in the lead, me trailing behind.

Snape proved to be resourceful, and had at least a little knowledge of muggles, as he knew enough to ask for directions. Following them we passed through a lively shopping centre and came out into a little square containing shops and grass. A road blocked its final side, and busses were held there in stops allowing Muggles to get on and off. Between them and us there seemed to be a sea of people dressed in a similar manor to Professor Snape. We passed through them, Snape receiving nods and greetings, and now I received the stares and glares. It wasn’t fun, and Snape had endured it even longer than I had. I could understand part of his closed look now, the part that made it worse than it normally was. We wandered from stand to stand, looking for the word Boldon. It seemed to be the very last one we tried, sods law as always, but the bus was due soon, according to my watch and the Person who Snape asked. When the buss arrived I took control of the money again and took a seat next to Snape somewhere towards the back. I had asked the driver if he would shout up when we reached Boldon, as we were on holiday and didn\'t know where we were going.

It was fortunate that he did, because by the time we had gotten there we were well and truly lost, houses had flashed past us with an amazing speed, though not so fast or with such a dangerous feeling as the Knight Bus. Snape looked queasy as we left the bus behind, and it occurred to me that he had looked the same after we had arrived in Newcastle. That must have been why we hadn’t taken the knight bus, Snape got queasy on the relatively tame muggle transport, and if that were true the knight bus would have been dreadful. It was also likely that the Knight Bus wouldn’t have known our destination. Now that that made sense I followed the Stiff back of Snape through Boldon. It seemed he knew his way about here, but he of course could have apparated here to make the booking for wherever we were staying.

The hotel displayed the sign ‘the Quality Hotel’ which immediately put me on my guard. I severely doubted it would be that good. Upon stepping inside I noted that it wasn’t actually as bad as I had first thought. Snape handled the reservation before gesturing for me to follow him.

“They only had twin rooms spare Potter, so you shall be sharing with me.” His voice dripped with venom, and I wondered what was in store for me. I took the bed farthest from the Door and the bathroom, nearest to the window that looked out from the second floor. Idly I wandered if this was a good plan, as Snape was in the way of my exit. I could hear Snape moving about behind me, looking just as impressive in his… I had been in the process of turning round, and stopped short to see Snape stood in only his trousers, his t-shirt crumpled on the bed. He was rummaging for a clean one when he looked up.

“What is it Potter?” He Snarled. “I have been sat in close proximity to you and Muggles for a large ammount of the day, I wish to change and wash the t-shirt before I wear it again.”

I stopped staring at him and moved over to my own bed, promptly flopping down onto my back.

“So, what happens now? Do I keep calling you Professor? What’s our Story? Why are we here together, according to the Muggles.”

My voice was board, tired. But the answers were needed. I heard him stop rummaging and sit on the other bed. I was glad that the beds were two single beds with tables between them. The thought of having to share with Snape revolted me.

“Now we rest, and, according to the Headmaster, enjoy our selves.\" I smiled, getting a feeling that Snape would not enjoy himself without his potions kit. “Then tomorrow we are to locate the Facility where these weapons are being developed. We have an approximate location, but will need to find the actual building. Once we do that, we take it as it comes. The ‘Story’ as you put is that we are to pose as Uncle and Nephew. I, apparently, am to be taking you on holiday.” The distaste in his voice was clear cut. “And I am to be Severus, and you, Potter are to be Harry.”

Silence fell. It was hard and cold. I rolled over, lying on my side. I was board, and still had some of the muggle money from today’s ‘Allowance’ left over. The transport hadn’t been as much as who ever did the calculations had expected.

“I’m going out.”

I was overly curt, and pushed myself up harshly from the bed. Great, I had to pretend to be related to Snape.

“Don’t get lost or be out too late, Harry.”

It was a warning, as clear as day it was a warning. Great. I left the room, not caring what he did now. I didn’t see him roll over, his expression pained. Even if I had I would have thought it served him right anyway.

I wandered about the place called Boldon. There were numerous pubs, a large School at which I stopped and stood, looking at it, considering how different my life would have been if I had gone to one of these, and a large Cinema. It was here I stopped and spent most of the remaining money. The film showing was something about werewolves and vampires and many other things that seemed to end up dead. The Hero didn’t get the girl for once. I left he auditorium smiling, not noticing anything about me, much. Apart from a girl, a girl who turned about and stared at me. She was the only one who did. I hurried on past her, not scared but confused. Why did she look at me? She certainly was no witch, I would have noticed if she was. I crept back into the room as quietly as I could. Snape was asleep already, and probably had been for some time, judging by the fact that he was still in the clothes he had changed into when I had left. I scowled and changed, falling into my bed, bathed in moonlight from the open window, knowing full well there would be ice and frost tomorrow.

Snape was even grouchier when he woke me the next day. He was in clean clothes again, and had turned to the boiling kettle on the desk by I managed to sit up, making something that smelled like coffee. I took the hint and changed quickly.

“Lets get breakfast over with and get on with this shall we?” His tone pierced the air.

So we set out to breakfast, the other guests at the hotel doing likewise, though some were leaving, possibly up here on business. I picked at my food; not noticing Snape didn’t eat at all. I finished all I was going to eat and looked up.

“So Pro… Severus. What are we doing today?”

Great, just one day here and I had already almost slipped up; Snape just raised that irritating eyebrow at me.

“We are going to the Waterfront at Sunderland. I hear it’s particularly nice at this time of year.”

Nice? A waterfront in the winter? Oh great. Now I was sure that Snape was mad. But I played along, following him out, any conversation brief, tense and completely irrelevant to anything else. We moved through the twisting streets heading, presumably, to the waterfront. I scowled as we stopped at the bus stop.

“Why are we taking the bus, again?”

I really wanted to know why we couldn’t use magic to get there, get permission from the Ministry or something. I was learning to apparate anyway.

“Are you completely thick, Harry? They’ll have sensors up all over the place where they are and the surrounding areas. Any Magic will alert them instantly, and it will tell them who is there.”

Did he ever not have that hard voice, did he always have to call me thick. I was scowling when I noticed some one approaching us, and I was very shocked when I saw it was the Girl from the night before. She stopped as soon as she noticed me as well. Her dress sense was the same style as what Snape wore, but her brown eyes weren’t hard and cold, they were open and welcoming.

“It’s you, you were at the Cinema last night.” I spluttered. Snape looked up, and narrowed his cold eyes dangerously at me.

“Harry…” He growled, but I didn’t really hear him, I was listening to the Girls response.

“Yeah, Yeah I was.” Her voice was pleasant, and there was something of Hermione about her. “Where you going?”

Snape would kill me, but I didn’t care. “The Dockside of the Wear.”

“I’m going round that way. I could give you a lift?” Suddenly I realized that, although she was talking to me, she was watching Snape. I scowled, not wanting her to look at him, but not wanting her to look at me either. Yet something told me we would need her help.

“That would be most appreciated bu…” Snape didn’t get to finish his sentence.

“Great, this way.” She moved off, and I moved off.

Having no other choice Severus followed us. We reached her destination, and climbed into her car, Snape looking rather ungraceful even getting into the front. I managed to stifle my laugh, getting a sense of justified pleasure from watching it. Then we were off. For some reason she joined us in our search, looking for life in the abandoned workshops and worfs.

“You sure this is the right place?”

I asked Severus, my brows furrowed.

“Of Course.” He was sounding all high and mighty.

“Well I don’t see anything.” I muttered back.

We had almost run out of places to check when I found it, Death Eaters moving silently in the old muggle place, discarded parts of ships littering the floor, bombs littering everywhere else. I almost shouted when an unmasked Death Eater strode in. Even if he had been hidden behind the black white face, I would have recognised the walk. Lucius Malfoy. He had broken out of Azkaban about a year ago, at the start of my sixth year. He had evaded capture. He turned his silver orbs, so much like Draco’s, and looked right at me, or where I had been. As soon as I had seen his grand entrance I had turned back to find Snape. He was checking the other warehouses.

“Their back there!” I whispered it, indicating the building.

He moved so swiftly I struggled to keep up with him. Once there he ducked low and peered in, his face contorting harshly. He beckoned both myself and the Muggle to move out. Back at the car she turned to us.

\"Those were Bombs. What are they planning to Blow up? Who are they?”

Obviously she hadn’t realized we weren’t even introduced to each other.

“They plan to blow up the world.” Snape response was calm, and her dace was dubious. I was about to speak up, but Snape beat me to it. “I’ll need tomorrow to get ready.”

I nodded, leaving it at that.

“I’ll pick you up the day after, the nearest Bus stop is a long walk from here these days.”

Severus was going to respond, cut her out, but he didn’t, perhaps it was the cold glare he was currently on the receiving end of. Instead he got back into the car and waited, staring out the front window, I got into the back again, and we drove off once the girl was in. At the hotel she left us, and we watched her drive away down the street.

The maid had been in while we were gone, the beds were made, the table was tidy, and the cups had been washed and replaced. I made for the bed and sank into its downy mattress, happy just to close my eyes.

“Are you a complete idiot Potter?” He had reverted to the name he usually graced me with now we were back in out own room then. “Getting a Muggle involved, risking the exposure of our world. You may have not set much score to the rules before, but I would have thought that even you could have kept to them now.”

I rose, glaring at him. “It saved us a journey, saved us from getting lost, and she potentially made the search time shorter. Strikes me that she was more of a help than a hindrance!”

“And increased our chances of getting caught. What if she had called out, screamed at the sight of the bombs, did something stupid like babble on about the muggle police? What if she had alerted those inside to our presence? We can\'t fight our way out of there, Potter.”

“But she didn’t, Professor. She helped us.” I was shaking now. She was helping us, making the job easier.

“Your just as much an insufferable idiot as your father was. And Black was, for that matter. If you don’t start to use your head…”

I didn’t let him finish that sentence; I flew at him from the bed “Don’t...you… Dare…!”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence. I hit him full force, sending him backwards until we hit the wall. I lashed out, all the rage pouring into this, into hurting him, into extracting my revenge for what he had done to Sirius, for the terror he inflicted upon the students, for Dumbledores getting old and failing the world, and me, and for the death of my parents whom I barely remembered. I lashed out as hard as I could against him, and he fought back. It seemed he wasn’t content to just block me, he wanted to fight. He pushed me backwards, pushed us backwards, and we sailed into the bed. I rolled to get on top of his thin frame, the enmity in his eyes burning mine out. I managed it, to get on top of him, but before I could secure my new position he moved again, his knee connecting hard with my side. I lashed out as well fell from the narrow bed, catching his face hard. I felt the hard landing shudder down my spine, and felt him land on top of me, his arms holding mine to stop any further damage and preventing him from breaking his fall. He landed with his face pressed to mine, our lips meeting. For a moment if felt natural, to be like this, with Severus, then he went rigid and rose swiftly, grabbing his trench coat and leaving the room, the door banging shut behind him. I lay still, shock in my shattered mind. Some how, at some point, my rage had turned into longing. Longing for Severus Snape.

I lay awake thinking about it all that night, waiting for him to get back. I couldn’t tell when it had changed from hate to desire, from anger to pent up passion. I had just accepted it, without realizing, and carried on as normal. And now I waited for him to return, listening for the swing of the door, the click as it shut. The wait was a long one. It was well past two in the morning when I heard the door open then close, heard him come in. Turning large green orbs to him, I watched his back as he hung the coat up again.

“Severus… Professor… Sir…”

He didn’t respond, just removed his top in the dark, removed his trousers and clambered into bed, lying there rigidly on his side.

“Why are you the only one who could do anything with the potion they’ve used?”

It was a different track to try; I just wanted him to speak, to answer me. To say something. To say anything.

“Because I created the potion.”

His response was tense and swift. He was trying to block me, stop me from asking questions. To just let him be. But I wouldn’t, I didn’t realize he was blocking me, and I wouldn’t let it drop.

“You created it? But how? Why?”

I was shocked, to say the least. Why would anyone want to create such a potion? A potion that could kill, regardless of how much it infected you.

“I didn’t WANT to create it. I just did, when I was researching the Wolfsbane potion. It was a pure, cataclysmic, accident.”

Silence again. I gave up, nestling into the soft duvet, waiting with a troubled mind for tomorrow. I felt as if sleep would never claim my brain as I slowly drifted off, my dreams filled with Technicolor screams and Snape, though they were all forgotten in the morning.

I woke early, as if I had somewhere to be, a lesson to prepare for, a battle to fight. But I didn’t today, today was a day for Snape to work, to prepare whatever he needed to prepare. Searching my backpack I found a pair of swimming trunks. The bag was deceptively small, for it held anything and everything that was needed. I knew it had to be expanded by magic. But I gave up thinking about it and headed down for a swim in the pool. The water was warm against my skin as I climbed slowly in, and for a while it was nice just to loose myself to the strokes in the water, loose my mind to the water that swirled out side it as I dived below the surface. But it couldn’t last. Eventually I had to get out of water, and return to my life. I dried off and changed back into the clothes I had worn to travel the short distance to the pool in. The door didn’t make a sound as I pushed it open, and the sight that met my eyes was quite astounding. I had never seen such a look of pure sadness on someone’s face, a look of pure openness. And I had never expected to see it upon the face of Severus Snape. I tried to slide back out of the room, wanting now more than ever to slip back into the shadows, to loose myself in a place far away from the trials of the world.

“Could it be that a Potter has learned tact?”

His voice cut me cold, and the rage from last night returned. And with it came a reckless daring.

“Screw you, Snape.”

I didn’t care any more. Screw them all. His face was dark as he turned to me; heavy brows knitted together, long limbs working to carry him menacingly over to where I stood, straddling the doorway.

“Say that again Potter, Just say it one more time…”

He was asking me to insult him, asking me to give him the chance to hurt me again. I wouldn’t let him. I would hurt him first. Except things like that never quite turn out as you plan, do they? I had intended, perhaps, to hit him again. But I didn’t. I kissed him. Hard on the Lips. And he kissed me back after a second in which he registered, stored and got over the shock. Then he returned the gesture, and it felt like it was meant to be. Sharp, sassy and oh so perfect. There was nothing else that could feel like this, nothing. Without realizing it we had hit the bed, him and I, a tangle of limbs, pressed so tightly together it was hard for me not to rip his clothes right off him. It seemed that we had found a new way to express our mutual hatred of each other, in the mutual love that had grown, twisted, out of it. He snatched at my clothes, and I helped him, before we reversed roles. Sweat ran down our backs, our thighs, the sheets crumpled and creased under us, the bed complaining slightly at our roughness and indecency. He took me then and there, and it was hard and fast. One moment I was crying out in pain, despite how gentile he had been, and he had tried to be gentile, the next I was screaming my delight and joy, and I could feel his silent agreement as we moved, breathing heavily, not making any more sound than a light whimper. It was over far to soon, and we lay there, together, his frame lanky and long next to mine, wich was toned to the perfection it needed for Quidditch. He moved before too long, silently returning to his work. No words for me, but then he had never been much of a man for words, had he? Words just didn’t suit Severus.

That night the beds were together, not apart, and he held me curled against him. I could feel the soft caress of his breath on the back of my hair as I drifted off to sleep.

The morning was even more tense, neither of us could speak, let alone do much else. All our energy was spent in dressing, performing all the morning rituals, gathering what we would need. The car journey was hell.

When we arrived, the Muggle let me out of the back and locked the doors before opening the boot. She raised her eyes to us both, fear making the pupils dilate.

“I don’t know if it will help me at all, but I brought it along anyway.”

She proceeded to remove a sword from her boot. It was long and slender, like a cross between the Samurai sword and the old broadsword. We moved out, the three of us. Before we entered into battle, possibly for the final time, Severus pulled me slightly aside.

“Good luck, Potter.” He made to move off “And be careful.” Those last three words whispered into my ear.

Those words were mine, and mine alone. He walked into the main building where we had found the bombs, and I walked off to find Voldemort in the small houses near by, the muggle close behind me. As it happened I didn’t find Voldemort in the houses, but in the large office suit in the same building as the weapons. Despite the large windows they hadn’t seen Severus beginning his sabotage, working swiftly about the place, emptying what ever he had been working on to the large bomb cases. They did notice eventually though, and they passed the muggle girl and myself as though we weren’t even there. Voldemort had remained, and I entered the office building. He hadn’t even had time to rise before I yelled at him

“Expelliamus!”

His wand shot away, clattering to the floor somewhere. But I hadn’t counted on the Dementors being present, on them attacking me as I stood, swiftly fathoming my next move. I had only one choice now.

“Expecto Patronum!”

It emerged swiftly from my wand, fully formed, but not only was it made of the silvery happiness, but it was riddled with gold, the new love I had some how found in me. It charged the Dementors, but they just kept coming, and I couldn’t fight Voldemort while I had to concentrate on holding my Patronus. I didn’t see the girl raise Voldemorts wand, nor did I hear her say

\"Expecto Patronum.”

I did hear her scream though. And see her fall, then watch her get back up, raise the wand again.

“Expecto Patronum!”

She cried it out this time, and to my amazement Silver shot out of the end of Voldemorts wand, and it took a form. A great stallion reared up to the sky and charged into the fray. My stag left the Dementors as soon as the stallion arrived, and I watched it, a part of me, gallop off towards Voldemort. I screamed as it jumped inside him, his pain ripping through me. But I held on, I didn’t die, or pass out. I rose, watching the Dementors fall back, being driven off but the Patronus of a muggle. Where was Severus? I turned and watched for him, my eyes wide. I didn’t know that Voldemort had gone, destroyed by the love in my Patronus. He had gone to what he feared the most; he had gone into the hands of death, taken there by the force he couldn\'t understand, taken there by love. Finally I found him; Severus was besieged by a hoard of Death Eaters. But he still managed to put the anti-potion into the capsule. The Death Eaters pressed closer to him, but he didn’t flinch. I felt a surge of pride as I rushed to help him. I never got there though. I was pulled roughly through the window I was now next to, having run back to the ground floor, and dragged away.

“Severus!”

Even I didn’t recognise the pain in my voice. Then I heard the explosion. Saw the explosion. The light blinded me. I was stunned; I didn’t know what was happening.

“We have to go. Mourn him when we’ve left here.”

Her voice was soft and kind, and I followed her somehow, got in the car as we drove away. Watched the flames burn his body, the tall, slim body buried under the mounds of material and explosives. Another chain set off, sending explosions sky high. I didn’t say goodbye when she dropped me off, I just left the car behind and packed my stuff before summoning the Knight Bus to take me back to Hogwarts. I was dead inside, dead and dying all at the same time. And once I got back I had to go through it all again. I left some parts out, but the feeling was there, I couldn’t stop watching the steady drip of water onto the smooth, polished table below me as I spoke to Albus and the representative from the Ministry. Finally I was sent to see Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing. My tracks were halted on my way. The girl, the muggle girl, was standing with Hagrid, looking about her with awe clearly placed upon her features. I hurried over.

“You’re here.” I was so polite.

“I am. Apparently when I used Voldemorts wand I managed to change the part of me that means I cant have magic. Now I get to come here and learn.” She smiled and proudly showed me the Hufflepuff crest upon her cloak. “My names Robyn, by the way.”

She smiled as I introduced myself and took my leave, heading up to the hospital wing, my heart even heavier now, some how. Before long I found a sleeping potion forced down my throat, and I drank it without question. Sleep was a blissful thing.

I wasn’t sure if I was awake or still asleep when I heard the voices talking.

“He arrived back just before you did. I sent him straight here.”

That was Albus Dumbledore, it wasn’t hard to tell.

“And you have no complaints, headmaster?”

Those oily tones, they were…

“So long as nothing occurs during the remainder of his last year, no, I have none.”

Shut up Dumbledore. I don’t care. It was Severus!

“Severus!”

I was now bolt upright, looking wildly about me, scared it had only been a dream. But there, in the brightness of day, stood Severus Snape. I caught my breath as he looked at me. His mouth was a thin, harsh line, his brows drawn into a scowl. But his eyes spoke to me, told me that I was correct. And that scant nod was all I needed.

“You will address me as Professor Snape, Mr Potter.”

But it didn’t matter what he said. For the first time in my life I understood Severus Snape. We had a relationship to finish before we could even contemplate a new one, and he would never change. But then again, neither would I…