When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 7: A New Purpose

When All is Lost One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 7: A New Purpose

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

Note: This does not follow the book timeline exactly I changed the order for the sake of my fiction. Just wanted to let you know just in case confusion occurred. In this fic, Potter is not born at the time Snape goes to Dumbledore for help.

May 1980 (Please read above note)

He paced back and forth, waiting for some news. Each day that passed wound his nerves even more than the previous day, and they were going to kill him at this rate. He'd always considered himself a master in hiding his feelings, yet they were ready to spring forth and ruined all he had done so far. The scary part was that he wasn't sure if he cared.

Several months had passed since he'd heard the prophecy and revealed it to the Dark Lord. In that time he'd been jumpy, had nightmares, and got sick often. Though he'd been promised that Lily would be his price and safe, he knew that it wasn't going to work. Not only because of Lily's personality but because the Dark Lord was becoming frustrated, angry and more dangerous and careless with his wand. He didn't care who died as long as he lived. The promise that the lord made to him was meaningless.

And because of this, because he betrayed her, and because he knew deep down he was on the wrong side, he was going to commit an action that he considered mad but necessary. An action he'd been contemplating since he revealed the prophecy.

He was going to betray the Dark Lord for her.

Severus took a deep breath. With a soft movement, he waved his wand and disappeared. He needed to be sure no one tracked him. Thankfully, he was still in the Dark Lord's good favour so he wasn't suspicious.

Merlin, he should've died already, or better yet, should've followed Lily's advice two years ago before he graduated.

The environment changed and the forest now surrounded him. He knew he was detected already; he would be a fool if he didn't know, so he put away his wand and waited. He forced his posture to remain upright; he locked his knees to prevent their trembling. He exposed himself deliberately to the danger.

The trees moved calmly and he dared to enjoy the view he had for the last time. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the smell of grass. He listened and picked up the sound of the flow of waters in the brooks. Hogwarts never changed. It had been the only home he truly ever knew, and he hadn't realized how much he missed it until he stood there.

His eyes shot open when he sensed a presence. A white flash crossed his side and his wand flew away from his cloak and into the darkness. Fear came back to his senses. He turned and saw Dumbledore pointing his wand at him.

Severus hadn't expected a welcome, but he hadn't thought the beginning of the meeting would go like this. Now, he was powerless and he only could kneel in front of him and surrender.

"D-don't kill me, please. I mean no harm." He raised his hands in a gesture of peace.

"I have no intention of killing you, Severus." The wand stayed pointed at him nonetheless. "So, do you bear a message from your master, or are you here on your own?" He noted a tone of skepticism in the last bit of his question.