If a Great Wave Shall Fall (Severus Snape & Lily Evans)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Disclaimer: I own nothing

.

Severus was lying on his bed in his dorm, staring at his ceiling, figuring that he should probably send out his Patronuses to tell those who would be invited about the defense club. Exactly what he didn't want to do, but he knew that Albus meant for him to. So one way or another, he would end up doing it. He sighed and knew for a fact that sending his Patronuses out running through the Slytherin Common Room was completely out of the question. Any Dark witch or wizard is completely incapable of conjuring a Patronus, and if they tried, maggots would come out of their wand and attack them. Instead of conjuring protection, it would conjure something that would try to eat them. So if his fellow Slytherins who knew he was a "Dark Wizard" saw several bright white translucent tigers coming from his room... things would get a little complicated, not to mention they had no idea said Patronuses could carry messages. Needless to say, it would just end in nothing but more troubles than Severus wanted.

He got off of his bed and shrugged on his cloak and left his room, ignoring the few students sitting in the common room as he walked through and went out through their entrance. He would send out his Patronuses from the Room of Requirement, and hope desperately that his tigers would remain unnoticed as they made their ways to his intended recipients. But an idea came to his mind, which made him change course; he turned on his heel and headed for a different tower.

Severus made his way towards the gargoyle at a leisurely pace and said the password when he got to it, "Phoenix Tails." Those were a new kind of Wizarding Candy (obviously) that Albus had recently found and took a liking to simply because of their name. He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door; not waiting for a response he opened the heavy door and walked in. "Albus?" He called, "Are you busy?" Severus knew the old man was up there, his connection to Hogwarts told him so.

Albus came into his main office with a smile on his face, "Can I help you with anything, Severus?" The violent shade of indigo robes he was wearing clashed horribly with his silvery-auburn hair.

"Most likely," Severus answered, walking up to the headmaster's desk while Albus walked around behind it, standing just next to his chair.

"What could a brilliant young man like you need help with?" Albus asked jokingly, his eyes scintillating.

Severus gave him a look and said, "I have found a fault in your plan to have me send Patronuses to those that we are inviting to join that blasted Defense Club you're having me head."

"Oh?" Albus asked as he sat down. "What might that be?"

"As you know, it is generally believed that only those pure of heart can produced a Patronus, and it would prove problematic if any Slytherin saw several corporeal Patronuses come from my dorm as I am supposed to be an evil and malicious person beyond saving. However, as you and I both know, the purity of the caster has nothing to do with the ability to produce a Patronus, it is their affiliation with the Dark Arts, and I am certain several Slytherins know this as well. Since I am a Death Eater it would be suspicious if I had several corporeal Patronuses running from my dorm. Whatever the student may believe, it would be harmful to my cover for me to do this," Severus said, itching his nose.

Albus was stroking his beard thoughtfully when he said, "I quite agree. It would certainly create some talk if several... what form does your Patronus take?"

"A tiger," Severus answered promptly, clasping his hands behind his back, rocking on his heels slightly.

The headmaster's eyebrows rose and he asked airily, "Is that so?"