A Different Path
Title: A Different Path
Rating: PG-13 for angst and violence
Warnings: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ 'HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS' OR SEEN THE MOVIES DON'T READ - CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SERIES
Author's Note: I've had this rolling around in my head for awhile. It's very much a work in progress.
He could feel it. Something had happened. The mark on his arm had sent a sharp blast of pain through his body and then nothing. Before his eyes the mark began to fade and Severus knew that the feeling of dread in his stomach - what had woken him from sleep - was not a nightmare that he could not recall. Something very real had happened.
"Albus! Albus! Slow down!"
Dressed in flowing, dark-colored robes, Albus Dumbledore was practically sprinting down an alleyway with Minerva McGonagall trying to keep up. He turned one final corner and there in front of him stood the house that should have protected, in ruins. The horrified gasp from somewhere behind him told him that McGonagall had finally caught up. She was about to go rushing into the house but Dumbledore laid a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"Wait here. We don't know who might be in there still. I need you to stay here in case someone needs to run for help." McGonagall clearly wanted to protest but the stern look Dumbledore gave her quelled any argument that was hanging on her lips.
The old wizard walked forward, wand drawn, prepared for someone to jump out at any moment. He cast a look back over his shoulder to make sure McGonagall was not following him. Satisfied that she was not he continued onward.
The air was thick with Dark Magic but there was something else mixed in. He could sense other magic in the area - another wizard - and he had an idea who it was. The last thing he wanted was for McGonagall to stumble in to find a known Death Eater in the rubble.
Once inside the house, Dumbledore's suspicions were confirmed by the agonized sobs - almost wails - coming from the upper level of the house mixed with the screaming of a child. Tears rolling down his face, he knelt next to the body of his friend, James Potter, checking for any sign of life. Of course, he already knew he would find none. Wiping a sleeve over his face Dumbledore stood again and headed for the stairs. He took the steps up two at a time, knowing now that the other in the house was not his foe.
The door frame was almost completely blown off and he could see sky through the gaping hole in the roof above. Wind whipped around the room, bits of plaster and masonry littering the floor. In a crib the baby he had heard downstairs was screaming, tears staining his face. At last, Dumbledore's gaze came to rest on a crumpled form on the floor that he knew to be a person who was very much alive but who had not noticed the other's arrival.
His heart was moved by the sight of the young man he had once taught but who had gone horribly astray, rocking back and forth, cradling a the lifeless body of Lily Potter, tears streaming down his face. He could understand the pain - the absolutely unbearable pain - of losing someone to such violence and knowing that it was your fault. He reached out a hand and rested it on the other man's back. The man who was clad in black robes did not react to the touch - perhaps he had subconsciously known Dumbledore was there the whole time.
"Severus," he whispered, gently but urgently, "Severus, you need to leave."
Snape shook his head with great vigor but said nothing.
"You must leave this place, now. Minerva McGonagall came with me - she is waiting outside. You know she will not wait long before disobeying my order to stay there and if she sees you here, after seeing the bodies of Lily and James Potter - she will kill you without a second thought."
After waiting another moment Dumbledore roughly grabbed Snape by the arm, disentangling him from Lily's body, and forced him to his feet. "Go to Hogsmeade. Wait for me at the Three Broomsticks. We will leave from there for Hogwarts. You'll be safe there until I can figure out what to do with you."
He gave the other man a shove as he let him go. Silently, he laid Lily's body back on the floor. When he stood up again he saw that Snape was still standing in the room, staring at the lifeless form.
"Severus Snape - did you not hear me? LEAVE! NOW! There has been enough death tonight! Leave and don't do anything stupid. I expect to see you at the Three Broomsticks later this evening." When Snape still made no move to leave Dumbledore strode across the room and took him by his shoulders. Fear for the young wizard's safety gripped him as he shook Snape. "She wouldn't want you to die. You know that better than anyone I am sure of it! Lily would not want you dead. Get out before it's too late."
It was only at the mention of Lily's name that Snape finally seemed to hear Dumbledore through the darkness and depth of his despair. Black eyes meet blue as if it was the first he had realized the other was in the room.
"Did you hear what I told you?" Dumbledore asked. Snape nodded, dumbly, in reply and, with one final look at his fallen friend, he turned on the spot and was gone.
A little over an hour later, the tall frame of Albus Dumbledore entered the pub in Hodsmeade. His eyes scanned the room, searching for him young charge. For a moment, anxiety gripped him as he could not find Severus Snape among the other patrons. As his eyes passed over a dark corner yet again, though, he finally caught sight of the other man. Wordlessly, he walked over to the table where Snape sat alone, hunched over a mug of pumpkin juice. As Dumbledore joined him he could hear a low rumble of disapproval from those around them. Apparently, they all had suspicions that the black-haired man at the table was one of the Dark Lord's. Dumbledore shrugged off the looks and comments and set his focus to the task at hand.
"The boy has been taken in by his aunt and uncle. Should be safe for now. Funerals are being planned as we speak."
Snape continued to stare into his pumpkin juice but he did at last open his mouth. "You said you would keep her safe." His harsh whisper carried an accusing note in it. Dumbledore, for his part, shook his head.
"Not here, Severus. Com'on. Let us go to the castle. The news of the murders will be getting out in full swing now and the Ministry will be out for blood against any and all of the Dark Lord's supporters - especially Death Eaters."
Without waiting for protest, Dumbledore stood and took hold of Snape by the back of his robes, pulling him to his feet once more. Snape shot him a look of pure venom before he shook Dumbledore off and moved under his own power. The two traveled through the night in silence. Ahead was the familiar form of the great castle that Snape had once called home. He never thought he would see it again - at least not again with someone like Dumbledore at his side.
Up steps and through doors, the two men walked. Every once in awhile someone would pass - student or staff - and their mouth would open to greet the Headmaster but quickly close at the sight of who he had in tow. For better or for worse, Snape had risen through Voldemort's ranks quickly thanks to his knowledge of the Dark Arts and his intelligence and he was known to be a Death Eater by many. Those who did not know what he was were chilled by his appearance and the sense of horrific grief and regret which clung to him.
At last, they reached the Headmaster's Office and living quarters. The sun was started to brighten the horizon as the two men were finally alone, staring at one another. Dumbledore broke away first, the magnitude of what had transpired finally catching up with him. He braced himself against a window sill, weeping. Behind him, Snape fell back against a door frame as his anguish threatened to cause him to collapse.
Outside the office, McGonagall was about to request access when she heard a great din and shouting coming from the direction she wished to go. She had no idea who the Headmaster was talking to but she decided that she would not interrupt. Her eyes red from crying she turned back the way she came and retreated to her own room.
It was late afternoon when Snape awoke. He pushed himself up from the cot Dumbledore had given him to sleep on and tossed aside the blankets that had appeared during the night. He swung his feet to the stone floor and just sat there for a long time, his head in his hands.
"You're awake. Good. You should eat something."
Snape rubbed his eyes to clear his vision and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, quill scratching across a bit of parchment.
"I'm not hungry," he mumbled.
The Headmaster laid down the quill and looked at Snape over his half-moon spectacles. "We cannot change what has already happened. Besides," he stood and walked over to where Snape still sat on the cot, "what happened last night will stay with you forever. I think that will serve well enough as a punishment on its own."
With a flick of his wand he summoned a tray of from his desk. On it was a goblet of pumpkin juice, a turkey sandwich, and some chunks of cheese. Snape poked at the food for a moment or two before finally picking up the sandwich and taking a bite.
"Good, good. Eat up. You'll need your wits about you soon enough."
Snape raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore as he continued to eat, wordlessly asking a question. Dumbledore nodded his acknowledgment of the other's query.
"The Ministry has started rounding up anyone suspected of ties to Voldemort. Rumors are starting to circulate that people are being put in Azkaban without just cause. Some are claiming that they were under the Imperius Curse - even though the Order of the Phoenix has good reason to believe them to have been acting of their own accord."
"I am going to Azkaban, aren't I?"
Much to Snape's surprise Dumbledore slowly shook his head. "No. At least if I have any say - which I will."
"But - "
"Why? If I want you to protect Harry Potter I can't very well have you being locked away. And - "
He withdrew from his robes something Snape immediately recognized. "How did you...?"
"How did I get your wand? I relieved you of it after you fell asleep. I wanted to check something."
He handed the black wand with carved handle back to its master. "You checked what spell was last cast by it."
Dumbledore nodded, "I had to be sure before I went telling the world you were reformed that you had not taken part in last night's events."
Snape's eyes blazed with barely-contained rage. "How DARE you!"
The Headmaster fixed the other wizard with a scathing look. "Yes, I do dare. You have done little in your life to inspire confidence in your better nature. However," his eyes softened as he continued, "that wand - I do not sense death upon it. If I were to hazard a guess I would say you've never killed. And - that is another reason why I wish to keep you from Azkaban."
Snape didn't disagree with Dumbledore's findings as he tucked the wand back to its rightful place in his robes. "What does that mean to you, Dumbledore? Not having killed?"
"Do not misunderstand me, Severus - I know very well from your wand that you have committed some truly horrific magic." His eyes bored into Snape, disappointment and anger evident in them. Snape, for his part, looked away, dark hair obscuring his face. "But - you haven't killed. That tells me one of two things - you're either a coward with no strength of your supposed beliefs or... you still place a value on all life. I believe the latter to be true since you have risked a great deal already by joining the Order."
He returned his desk but turned back to give Snape one more thought. "There is still good left in you, Severus. I won't throw you to the dementors of Azkaban while there is still hope."
Rating: PG-13 for angst and violence
Warnings: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ 'HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS' OR SEEN THE MOVIES DON'T READ - CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SERIES
Author's Note: I've had this rolling around in my head for awhile. It's very much a work in progress.
He could feel it. Something had happened. The mark on his arm had sent a sharp blast of pain through his body and then nothing. Before his eyes the mark began to fade and Severus knew that the feeling of dread in his stomach - what had woken him from sleep - was not a nightmare that he could not recall. Something very real had happened.
"Albus! Albus! Slow down!"
Dressed in flowing, dark-colored robes, Albus Dumbledore was practically sprinting down an alleyway with Minerva McGonagall trying to keep up. He turned one final corner and there in front of him stood the house that should have protected, in ruins. The horrified gasp from somewhere behind him told him that McGonagall had finally caught up. She was about to go rushing into the house but Dumbledore laid a firm hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"Wait here. We don't know who might be in there still. I need you to stay here in case someone needs to run for help." McGonagall clearly wanted to protest but the stern look Dumbledore gave her quelled any argument that was hanging on her lips.
The old wizard walked forward, wand drawn, prepared for someone to jump out at any moment. He cast a look back over his shoulder to make sure McGonagall was not following him. Satisfied that she was not he continued onward.
The air was thick with Dark Magic but there was something else mixed in. He could sense other magic in the area - another wizard - and he had an idea who it was. The last thing he wanted was for McGonagall to stumble in to find a known Death Eater in the rubble.
Once inside the house, Dumbledore's suspicions were confirmed by the agonized sobs - almost wails - coming from the upper level of the house mixed with the screaming of a child. Tears rolling down his face, he knelt next to the body of his friend, James Potter, checking for any sign of life. Of course, he already knew he would find none. Wiping a sleeve over his face Dumbledore stood again and headed for the stairs. He took the steps up two at a time, knowing now that the other in the house was not his foe.
The door frame was almost completely blown off and he could see sky through the gaping hole in the roof above. Wind whipped around the room, bits of plaster and masonry littering the floor. In a crib the baby he had heard downstairs was screaming, tears staining his face. At last, Dumbledore's gaze came to rest on a crumpled form on the floor that he knew to be a person who was very much alive but who had not noticed the other's arrival.
His heart was moved by the sight of the young man he had once taught but who had gone horribly astray, rocking back and forth, cradling a the lifeless body of Lily Potter, tears streaming down his face. He could understand the pain - the absolutely unbearable pain - of losing someone to such violence and knowing that it was your fault. He reached out a hand and rested it on the other man's back. The man who was clad in black robes did not react to the touch - perhaps he had subconsciously known Dumbledore was there the whole time.
"Severus," he whispered, gently but urgently, "Severus, you need to leave."
Snape shook his head with great vigor but said nothing.
"You must leave this place, now. Minerva McGonagall came with me - she is waiting outside. You know she will not wait long before disobeying my order to stay there and if she sees you here, after seeing the bodies of Lily and James Potter - she will kill you without a second thought."
After waiting another moment Dumbledore roughly grabbed Snape by the arm, disentangling him from Lily's body, and forced him to his feet. "Go to Hogsmeade. Wait for me at the Three Broomsticks. We will leave from there for Hogwarts. You'll be safe there until I can figure out what to do with you."
He gave the other man a shove as he let him go. Silently, he laid Lily's body back on the floor. When he stood up again he saw that Snape was still standing in the room, staring at the lifeless form.
"Severus Snape - did you not hear me? LEAVE! NOW! There has been enough death tonight! Leave and don't do anything stupid. I expect to see you at the Three Broomsticks later this evening." When Snape still made no move to leave Dumbledore strode across the room and took him by his shoulders. Fear for the young wizard's safety gripped him as he shook Snape. "She wouldn't want you to die. You know that better than anyone I am sure of it! Lily would not want you dead. Get out before it's too late."
It was only at the mention of Lily's name that Snape finally seemed to hear Dumbledore through the darkness and depth of his despair. Black eyes meet blue as if it was the first he had realized the other was in the room.
"Did you hear what I told you?" Dumbledore asked. Snape nodded, dumbly, in reply and, with one final look at his fallen friend, he turned on the spot and was gone.
A little over an hour later, the tall frame of Albus Dumbledore entered the pub in Hodsmeade. His eyes scanned the room, searching for him young charge. For a moment, anxiety gripped him as he could not find Severus Snape among the other patrons. As his eyes passed over a dark corner yet again, though, he finally caught sight of the other man. Wordlessly, he walked over to the table where Snape sat alone, hunched over a mug of pumpkin juice. As Dumbledore joined him he could hear a low rumble of disapproval from those around them. Apparently, they all had suspicions that the black-haired man at the table was one of the Dark Lord's. Dumbledore shrugged off the looks and comments and set his focus to the task at hand.
"The boy has been taken in by his aunt and uncle. Should be safe for now. Funerals are being planned as we speak."
Snape continued to stare into his pumpkin juice but he did at last open his mouth. "You said you would keep her safe." His harsh whisper carried an accusing note in it. Dumbledore, for his part, shook his head.
"Not here, Severus. Com'on. Let us go to the castle. The news of the murders will be getting out in full swing now and the Ministry will be out for blood against any and all of the Dark Lord's supporters - especially Death Eaters."
Without waiting for protest, Dumbledore stood and took hold of Snape by the back of his robes, pulling him to his feet once more. Snape shot him a look of pure venom before he shook Dumbledore off and moved under his own power. The two traveled through the night in silence. Ahead was the familiar form of the great castle that Snape had once called home. He never thought he would see it again - at least not again with someone like Dumbledore at his side.
Up steps and through doors, the two men walked. Every once in awhile someone would pass - student or staff - and their mouth would open to greet the Headmaster but quickly close at the sight of who he had in tow. For better or for worse, Snape had risen through Voldemort's ranks quickly thanks to his knowledge of the Dark Arts and his intelligence and he was known to be a Death Eater by many. Those who did not know what he was were chilled by his appearance and the sense of horrific grief and regret which clung to him.
At last, they reached the Headmaster's Office and living quarters. The sun was started to brighten the horizon as the two men were finally alone, staring at one another. Dumbledore broke away first, the magnitude of what had transpired finally catching up with him. He braced himself against a window sill, weeping. Behind him, Snape fell back against a door frame as his anguish threatened to cause him to collapse.
Outside the office, McGonagall was about to request access when she heard a great din and shouting coming from the direction she wished to go. She had no idea who the Headmaster was talking to but she decided that she would not interrupt. Her eyes red from crying she turned back the way she came and retreated to her own room.
It was late afternoon when Snape awoke. He pushed himself up from the cot Dumbledore had given him to sleep on and tossed aside the blankets that had appeared during the night. He swung his feet to the stone floor and just sat there for a long time, his head in his hands.
"You're awake. Good. You should eat something."
Snape rubbed his eyes to clear his vision and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, quill scratching across a bit of parchment.
"I'm not hungry," he mumbled.
The Headmaster laid down the quill and looked at Snape over his half-moon spectacles. "We cannot change what has already happened. Besides," he stood and walked over to where Snape still sat on the cot, "what happened last night will stay with you forever. I think that will serve well enough as a punishment on its own."
With a flick of his wand he summoned a tray of from his desk. On it was a goblet of pumpkin juice, a turkey sandwich, and some chunks of cheese. Snape poked at the food for a moment or two before finally picking up the sandwich and taking a bite.
"Good, good. Eat up. You'll need your wits about you soon enough."
Snape raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore as he continued to eat, wordlessly asking a question. Dumbledore nodded his acknowledgment of the other's query.
"The Ministry has started rounding up anyone suspected of ties to Voldemort. Rumors are starting to circulate that people are being put in Azkaban without just cause. Some are claiming that they were under the Imperius Curse - even though the Order of the Phoenix has good reason to believe them to have been acting of their own accord."
"I am going to Azkaban, aren't I?"
Much to Snape's surprise Dumbledore slowly shook his head. "No. At least if I have any say - which I will."
"But - "
"Why? If I want you to protect Harry Potter I can't very well have you being locked away. And - "
He withdrew from his robes something Snape immediately recognized. "How did you...?"
"How did I get your wand? I relieved you of it after you fell asleep. I wanted to check something."
He handed the black wand with carved handle back to its master. "You checked what spell was last cast by it."
Dumbledore nodded, "I had to be sure before I went telling the world you were reformed that you had not taken part in last night's events."
Snape's eyes blazed with barely-contained rage. "How DARE you!"
The Headmaster fixed the other wizard with a scathing look. "Yes, I do dare. You have done little in your life to inspire confidence in your better nature. However," his eyes softened as he continued, "that wand - I do not sense death upon it. If I were to hazard a guess I would say you've never killed. And - that is another reason why I wish to keep you from Azkaban."
Snape didn't disagree with Dumbledore's findings as he tucked the wand back to its rightful place in his robes. "What does that mean to you, Dumbledore? Not having killed?"
"Do not misunderstand me, Severus - I know very well from your wand that you have committed some truly horrific magic." His eyes bored into Snape, disappointment and anger evident in them. Snape, for his part, looked away, dark hair obscuring his face. "But - you haven't killed. That tells me one of two things - you're either a coward with no strength of your supposed beliefs or... you still place a value on all life. I believe the latter to be true since you have risked a great deal already by joining the Order."
He returned his desk but turned back to give Snape one more thought. "There is still good left in you, Severus. I won't throw you to the dementors of Azkaban while there is still hope."