Dancing in the Dark - A Severus Snape Love Story

9 | The Eyes of the Broken

A/n

This roughly follows the events of Deathly Hallows with some obvious changes to the story. Dumbledore is still alive and the school is not infiltrated by the Death Eaters in this version! Any changes you notice are on purpose as I am not trying to follow the actual story.

*TRIGGER WARNING* Mentions of bullying, self harm and scars. Please keep yourself safe while reading. There are no graphic acts or images, just the mention of self harm and a description of old scars.

"Lay down. Pretend you're asleep." Snape hissed as he did up his shirt.

Doing as I was told, I covered myself back up with the blanket and buried down into the pillow. Severus took a moment to settle himself before opening the door just enough to poke his head through. A puzzled Dumbledore stood on the other side.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you like this Severus, but I'm afraid what I am about to tell you cannot wait a moment longer." Dumbledore said, his voice grave and sincere. Snape immediately snapped out of his concern for getting caught and now seemed to be more focused on what Dumbledore had to say.

"I have been informed by the Order that Harry is hunting Horcruxes in an attempt to weaken and kill Voldemort. It is only a matter of time before Voldemort catches on and begins looking for Harry himself. I will need you to steer him as far away from the boy as you can at your next meeting." Dumbledore said darkly.

At his next meeting? With Voldemort?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Who was this man I had just spent the night with?

Snape winced. Whether it was from what Dumbledore had just said or the thoughts running through my head, I'm not sure. But he kept his composure well enough to continue on speaking with the older wizard.

"Of course, Headmaster. I will do my best to buy Potter more time. Is there anything else?" He asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"No Severus, that will be all for now. Please, enjoy the rest of your morning." Snape inhaled rather loudly, remembering who was laying in his bed. More than ready to end this conversation, Snape went to show Dumbledore out. Before Severus could shut the door, the older wizard turned back.

"And a very good morning to you, Miss Cross!" Dumbledore called, winking as he left Snape's chambers.

By the time Snape had returned to the bedroom, I was in tears.

He stood in the doorway ashamed but not surprised. Obviously I was not supposed to hear any of that conversation. Now his dark secret was out. Severus unbuttoned the sleeve of his pj shirt and rolled it up to reveal the Dark Mark inked into his skin. His eyes sunk to the floor as I choked on my words.

"You have five minutes to explain yourself."

I was stuck somewhere between disgust and betrayal. How could I have possibly trusted this man when he bore a mark that stood for such hideous things? Severus looked up at me, gathering all the courage he could to speak the words he so desperately wanted to say.

"I used to be someone very... different from who I am now. I was a monster. I did monstrous things." Hearing the words were another stab in the heart, the reality of who he used to be was quickly becoming more than I could bear. I clung to the sheets, feeling my world shifting underneath me at a dizzying pace.

"I don't expect you to ever understand. But when one is hurt, when one is completely and utterly broken, the world cannot begin to pay them back. Not in the eyes of the broken. Suddenly, the world owes them... everything. And they seek to take exactly that." He was shaking, he seemed to be opening up layer after layer of himself in front of this young woman with every second that passed. Never in his life had he been so vulnerable with someone.