Severus Snape A Soul Undiminished

Chapter 62 - Forged

Severus entered Malfoy Manor to find an eerily familiar scene. A professor he'd known from Hogwarts was floating above the grand dining table, obviously under the Dark Lord's
curse. He guessed that it was not unlike the one Lucius had used on Sirana the night he met her.
Voldemort sat at the head of the table, and every other chair except the one that was saved for him was filled with members of the Dark Lord's ranks. Severus saw no way he could save Professor Burbage's life, and he tried to show no emotion at her presence there. He knew what he had to do, and although Dumbledore was dead, Severus still had his counsel via Dumbledore's portrait. His next meeting at the grand table was no more pleasant, since, as per Dumbledore's instructions, he had to give away the plans to move Harry Potter, thus securing his position at Voldemort's table. Severus had done everything he could to protect Harry Potter while posing as a Death Eater for Voldemort. He hated the mask and what he had to do keep up appearances for the Dark Lord. During the battle when Harry Potter was moved, he had killed Potter's owl to draw the other Death Eaters away. Mad-Eye had perished as
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A Soul Undiminished—Severus Snape
well, although not by his own hand, and he mourned even his loss. Summer break had been long and lonely, and after Sirana's departure and Dumbledore's death, he felt almost completely isolated from the life he had known. Finally, he had accepted the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts, knowing it was the only way he could continue to provide protection to the students and staff. He would have a tough time ahead. Alecto and Amycus Carrow were Death Eaters who were appointed as professors at Hogwarts, and he knew they would be merciless. He would also no doubt be seen as a villain as well, and he would not have any true allies. He thought about Sirana—he felt her there in his mind, and he decided he was wrong. He still had one, the only one that mattered.
Sirana was heartbroken to hear that Mad-Eye had died in battle when Harry Potter was moved. She had worked with Mad- Eye many times over the last few months and had considered him a good friend. She had cried alone, not wanting to share her emotions with anyone. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she had cried on Severus's chest. There was no way she could have foreseen this future for herself. She hadn't heard from Severus since she had seen him at the Battle of the Two Silos. She had heard his name in connection with Dumbledore's death. She also knew he was going to be the new Headmaster of Hogwarts. There was no way she could return as a teacher with Voldemort in control of the Ministry, and therefore, Hogwarts. Her name was known to Voldemort and his Death Eaters because of her grandfather's role in the wars. Her name was starting to become
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Forged
more infamous in its own respect as well, and she knew she had a bounty on her own head. Her link with Severus remained, and she cherished it more than if it were forged from gold. She would find a way to help protect Hogwarts and its students, but for now, she was fighting from outside its walls. Whatever Severus's role in all of this was, she had chosen to simply trust him until she could no longer do so.