A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

A Living Secret ~ One Shot for Now

“Severus, I am dying,” Albus Dumbledore said to the Potions Master, whose black eyes widened in shocked surprise, “I am afraid I am too old to throw off the dread curse Voldemort struck me with at the Ministry the night we rescued Harry.”

Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as a double agent against the Dark Lord Voldemort scowled immediately. Damn Harry Potter. His stupidity had brought this about. The stupid, stupid boy. Because of him, the only wizard who he believed could have truly faced Voldemort was going to die

Dumbledore seemed to be able to divine Severus’ thoughts.

“Now Severus, don’t blame Harry for this. He loved his godfather and truly believed he was in danger,” Albus said to the wizard.

“It was no reason for him to try and take on Voldemort, Headmaster…endangering not only himself but the lives of his housemates as well. Sirius was just one man, his death would have meant nothing in the greater scheme of things,” Severus said rather hatefully.

The Potions Master had hated Sirius Black for years due to being targeted by him and his friends while in Hogwarts, friends which included Harry’s father James. Sirius should have died long ago as far as Severus was concerned.

“Every life is a gift, Severus and a loss once it is extinguished. I know how you felt about Sirius, but for Harry he was the closest thing to a family that he had. He did what he felt he had to do, and as a result several Death Eaters now reside in Azkaban,” Dumbledore said.

“And as a result, you are dying,” Severus said, his eyes hard, “a wizard worth one hundred Sirius Blacks at least.”

Albus shook his head slightly at his Potions Master’s continued malevolence for the dead.

“Yes, I am dying Severus…but I believe it is my fate and not anyone’s fault,” Albus said hiking up the sleeve on the arm where his blackened, skeletal hand rested. The rest of his arm appeared healthy. Then the wizard removed the heavy glamour and Severus let out a hiss when he saw the arm was blackened and shriveled as the hand. Dumbledore pulled the sleeve higher, revealing his decimated shoulder, blackness extending down across his chest.

“It is spreading to my heart, Severus. I will be dead in a matter of days,” Albus said, replacing the glamour and shaking down his sleeve again. “No one knows this but you. And the reason I am telling you…is because you have to continue my work. Only you have access to the Dark Lord. You have to make it possible for Harry to destroy him.”

Severus looked at him silently.

“Your loyalty to the Dark Lord has been questioned greatly these last few years, Severus, and I fear Voldemort no longer has the faith in you he once did. We must restore his faith in you…we need it now more than ever,” Albus said.

Severus felt a cold feeling wash over him.

“I am well aware Draco has been given the assignment of killing me, thanks to your information,” the wizard continued, “You are bound to protect him…but not just from death, Severus…from a life of reprisals, of hatred, of self-loathing. Draco is the son of a Death Eater, but he hasn’t the heart of one, no matter how he boasts and tows the Death Eater line. The only reason he has agreed to do this, is because his life and the life of his family is in the balance. You must not let Draco be the one to kill me, Severus.”

The Potions Master remained silent. Dumbledore continued.

“As my death is inevitable…I have decided that my demise should serve a greater purpose, one that can possibly help to end Voldemort’s reign in the future and the meantime, provide him with solid proof that you are indeed his loyal servant. You are to be the one to release me from my mortal coil,” the old wizard said.

Horror crossed the Potions Master’s pale face. It was a strange emotion to see. The wizard had witnessed the most horrible, depraved acts and remained stoic and straight-faced. But the very idea of killing Albus Dumbledore was enough to make the wizard blanch.

“Headmaster…I don’t want to do this,” Snape began.

Albus had been more than a leader and Headmaster to the dark wizard. He had been the one to believe in him, when everyone questions his loyalties. Albus had provided him with a job, a roof over his head and a chance to redeem himself. Now the only wizard in the world who felt anything good towards him wanted him to kill him?

“I am afraid you have no choice in the matter, Severus. I would rather pass from this life by the hand of a friend, rather than that of an enemy. It is my dying wish, Severus…surely you would not deny me that?” the Headmaster said to him, his blue eyes twinkling.

Severus looked at him and sighed.

“No, Albus…I would not,” the wizard replied.

“Of course, you will be deemed a traitor by the entire wizarding world, though that is nothing new for you…but you will be hunted and forced into hiding,” Albus said, “But I am sure Voldemort will protect you.”

“Possibly…or he might consider my service finished and kill me. He is not the most trustworthy despot,” Severus said, still trying to absorb the fact that he would have to take Albus’ life.

Albus stood and walked over to Fawkes, who was gazing at him with sad eyes. The phoenix let out a miserable trill.

“I know, Fawkes…I know. But unlike you, my friend…I cannot rise from my own ashes. Men are meant to move on from this world, and I Fawkes…despite all my power, am still a man. I am content,” he said to the bird. Then he looked at Fawkes, arching an eyebrow at him. A non-verbal communication seemed to pass between them.

Suddenly, Fawkes brightened, bobbing his head excitedly, then turning to look at Severus.

Severus’ throat had tightened at the Headmaster’s words to his familiar, and he lowered his head for a moment, missing the exchange between Albus and Fawkes. He looked up, hope in his dark eyes.

“Albus, give me a chance to attempt to create a potion that can stop or slow the hex,” Severus said suddenly. “There are many ingredients known to retard…”

Albus smiled at Severus but shook his head.

“No Severus…there is nothing you can do. My body is simply too old to regenerate. I have been to other gifted Potions Masters in an attempt to slow my demise. I didn’t come to you because I wanted no one at Hogwarts to know for morale’s sake. You have enough secrets, my friend. All those who attempted to save me are under an Unbreakable Vow not to reveal my condition. All that could be done, was done…I assure you,” Albus replied.

The last bit of hope in the Potions Master faded. There was nothing else for it then. Albus was doomed

Albus motioned to Fawkes to rest on his good arm, then approached Severus.

“Rise, Severus,” the Headmaster said, looking at him soberly.

Severus stood up. Albus brought Fawkes closer to him and rested one hand upon the Potions Master’s shoulder.

“Bind, Fawkes,” he said to the Phoenix.

Suddenly Severus couldn’t move and Fawkes flew to his other shoulder and sat there for a moment, his body issuing a golden light that covered him, the Professor and Albus, as the Headmaster murmured some type of spell under his breath. Severus began to shudder as he felt a powerful pull on his insides, a sharp pain, then the golden light suddenly snapped inside him, making the Potions Master dizzy and nauseous for a moment. Fawkes trilled at him and flew back to Albus’ arm.

Still shaken, and feeling as if something had been added to him, Severus asked Albus what he had done.

“I’ve given you protection, Severus. You will soon become the most hated man in the Wizarding World besides Voldemort himself. In the event you are captured or your life endangered by those bent on avenging me, you will find that help will come to those who are loyal to me,” the wizard said obliquely. “I cannot in good conscience leave you to the wolves, Severus. You are still serving the Greater Good.”

Severus knew this was all the wizard would tell him. Albus was infuriatingly secretive when he wanted to be. But at least…at least he wouldn’t be alone in this…not really. In a way, Albus would still be with him.

Severus was correct. Yet he didn’t know how correct he truly was.

Severus Snape had, without his knowledge…been turned into a Horcrux and contained a fragment of Albus Dumbledore’s soul. As long as Severus remained safe, Albus would continue to exist despite his body being damaged or destroyed.

To create a Horcrux, the spellcaster’s soul had to be fragmented by committing the act of murder. Albus Dumbledore had killed many times in the fight for the Greater Good, but each time he killed, his soul was torn. In his heart, though he was in the midst of battle, every life he ever took, he considered murder. This was something the Headmaster kept hidden from others, who would disagree that this was the truth of the matter. Yet Albus believed all life was sacred and taking it, a grievous thing. It was a simple matter to take part of his fragmented soul and place it in Severus.

Yes, Severus Snape was the keeper of many secrets.

But now, he was a Living Secret himself.

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Hermione Granger, who was in the library with a sullen Harry and equally sullen Ron, suddenly looked up from her reading, her eyes narrowed.

”Did you feel that?” she asked Ron and Harry.

Ron looked at her with narrowed, bloodshot blue eyes.

”Feel what? I can’t feel anything, my brain’s so numb,” Ron complained, “Come on Hermione, give us a break, now.”

Hermione had, as usual, browbeaten both boys into studying with her, when they would rather be outside.

”I didn’t feel anything, Hermione,” Harry said to her, looking up from his parchment. “What was it?”

”I don’t know…sort of a surge of power or something. Like strong magic had just been performed,” she said, looking about, her face in a slight frown.

”Probably something you ate at lunch. That roast beef was a little too rare,” Ron said, trying to focus on his Advanced Potions book again.

”I don’t know,” Hermione said slowly, “But it was something…I’m sure.”

Both Ron and Harry went back to their work as Hermione continued frowning.

Something was going on at Hogwarts.

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A/N: I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself, writing one-shots that need to be more. I’ve been listening to Half-Blood Prince on audio cd, trying to retain it. I didn’t like the book because of Severus killing Dumbledore and have never even attempted to write anything HBP compliant because of it. Then this little idea came to me. I don’t know if it is original or not, because I have never read a HBP compliant fan-fic. I hated the idea of Severus being seen as a traitor and I knew all of them had to start out that way, so I avoided them. But as I tried to go to sleep, listening to the Half-Blood Prince a third time, I came up with this scenario between Severus and Dumbledore that precedes the killing. I don’t know if it will ever be finished…and of course if I do it, it will be HG/SS which is why I have it under HG/SS. I think that I have adequately covered why Severus contained so much hatred when he looked at Harry on the grounds…because he blames Harry for Dumbledore being hexed with the curse that was killing him and led to this horrible ending. But Severus has no idea he is a Horcrux. I think that’s a pretty cool premise to build a story on. Maybe in the future. :)