Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 88 - Dumbledore's Fall

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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As the school year ended, Draco wondered if it would be his life or Dumbledore's that would end with it.

He couldn't stomach the idea of murder, yet the thought of hearing his parents' tortured screams made him want to vomit.

Desperately searching for a compromise somewhere along the edge of villainy, Draco sought a way to accomplish his impossible task while keeping his humanity.

He stumbled through one failed attempt after another.

A cursed necklace that never reached its intended recipient.

A vial of poison intercepted by the castle's house elves.

Late one evening, in the headmaster's office, Dumbledore sat in his chair while Severus blotted his affected arm with a bit of Healing Elixir dabbed onto a clean washcloth.

"Tell me, Severus....." Dumbledore said with a small smile, "Is it as difficult for you to watch the boy bungle his orders so comically?"

The frown that had settled on Severus's pale face deepened as he glanced up at his employer and asked, "You would dare mock the attempts of the very person sent to kill you, headmaster?"

"Draco is little more than a frightened boy." Dumbledore replied with a knowing chuckle.

Severus narrowed his dark eyes at the ominous, black lines of venom that could be seen creeping up Dumbledore's arm to spread all the way from his cursed finger and stretch threateningly towards his ancient heart.

"The time is coming, Severus." Dumbledore confessed with a resigned sigh, "I hope you stand ready to choose between what is right and what is necessary."

Severus lifted his head to meet Dumbledore's piercing gaze with a scowl of deep concern.

"You will, of course, be sure to give the details of my slaying to Tom?" Dumbledore expectantly asked, "He'll trust you more for it, Severus, believe me........And that alone may very well win you and your family a bit more time for Harriet to strengthen herself."

"Has it ever entered your brilliant mind that I don't want.....to do this.....anymore?" Severus drawled.

His brow furrowed more with the slow enunciation of each carefully chosen word.

"Nor do I have any particular interest in dying." Dumbledore replied as casually as if he spoke of running errands. He glanced down at his cursed arm before he looked at Severus again and replied, "Regardless, it seems that we both find ourselves men of few choices these days, my old friend."

Dumbledore was more than four times Severus's age, but to hear him speak so sentimentally warmed Severus's heart.

".........And if I fail, Dumbledore?" Severus mused out loud.

Dumbledore blinked as he waited for Severus to go on.

Severus cleared his throat, "Suppose that in the end, I cannot do what is........necessary......What you've asked of me?"

"Inconceivable." Dumbledore said with a bittersweet smile, "You took the vow, Severus. There is no going back."

"...........The question remains, Dumbledore." Severus insisted.

Dumbledore shrugged, "If we are going to assume that the truth is no longer the truth and that you have not already bonded yourself to Draco in a life-altering magical contract..........If we are to suppose you choose to let me live out the rest of my greatly limited and compromised days......." He went on.