The End of a Spy

Notes: This is set just before An Apology Long Over-due.


The fading moonlight only enhanced the eerie atmosphere of the graveyard - the resting place of generations of Snapes. The oldest of the tombs were covered in ivy and moss. Most of the stones were broken, the gargoyles topping the crypts seemed as alert as ever, seemingly ready to jump any intruder. It was a place of death where life would only be endured for a while before it, too, would be consumed in endless dark.

Death and decay surrounded Sirius Black, but still he hoped that Severus... Hoped that his hunch had been correct. After Lucius had been rescued, and the Potions master had been found missing, it wasn't hard to count two and two together. Draco Malfoy, who had more than once cursed his father, had been the one to find the old tracking charm. But it only worked within certain limits. So all the Order had been able to find out was that Severus Snape was somewhere in Cornwall.

Cornwall... How often had Severus told Sirius of his ancestral home. For the Slytherin, Hogwarts had always been the more cherished place, not the place where his family dwelt. The place where his ordeal had started. Were his father had... Angry tears had threatened to well from Sirius eyes as he related his thoughts to his fellow Order members.

Caligula Snape had been just like the Roman Emperor of the same name; cruel and unfeeling. He had been an early supporter of the Dark Lord and had raised his only son to become a master of the Dark Arts. But Severus had opposed him, as good as he could. Now, Voldemort might see it fit to let the father triumph over his son, for all eternity. Not to mention that the Death Eaters had often proved to have a twisted sense of humour.

Only moments after he had apparated, Sirius transformed. Padfoot was so much better at finding... The scent of blood almost knocked the animagus out cold. 'Severus!' his human heart screamed. 'I can't be too late, I can't.' Ignoring the other Order members, the black dog sprung into action and ran through the lines of graves, the outline of the mansion looming ever closer.

Twisted sense of humour indeed. After his parents death, Severus had vowed that he'd never return to his home. Lucius, Severus' friend, had of course known how much the Potions master had hated this place. He must have told his Lord, must have suggested this dead place as the site of Severus' - the traitor's - execution. - "If I can't have him, no one will." - 'Malfoy, you bastard! I'll find you, and if it's the last thing I'll ever do.'

The smell grew stronger and stronger, until Padfoot finally reached its source. In mid-jump he transformed back - and stopped dead in his tracks. 'Sweet Merlin, NO!'

At the foot of his father's grave, like a sacrifice to the late patriarch, lay the still form of Severus Snape - in a puddle of what could only be blood, his blood. So Sirius had been right. 'Curse the Death Eaters, curse Voldemort, and curse me for being so stupid!' If his worst fear was true, he would follow the Potions master ... right after taking care of that devil, Lucius.

Dropping to his knees by the Slytherin's side, he began to softly call Severus' name. To no avail. 'Merlin, he is so still...' The Potions master was wrapped in his cape, his robes had obviously been torn to shreds by his friends. Slowly, he reached out and parted the thin fabric, gasping at what he saw.

Even in the dim light, angry cuts and welts could be seen. Sirius could picture the knives and whips only too well. In addition, the almost black bruises painted a rather clear picture. The Death Eaters must have kicked Severus when he was already lying on the ground, not to mention that they had also placed him under Crucio, repeatedly. Voldemort's followers were known for their cruelty.

Further down - Sirius had to close his eyes for a second to force the tears back - dried blood was clinging to the pale, and, as Sirius remembered, so very soft skin of Severus inner thighs. 'Please no.' But it was painfully obvious that the Death Eaters had raped the black-haired Slytherin. Probably not for the first time, either.

Placing his hand gently upon a thin shoulder, he could feel the former spy shy away from him. The ends of the cape were still in his hands, and he clutched the material closer to himself - or rather, tried to. Moaning in pain, he dropped the fabric and only now did Sirius see that Severus fingers had been broken, apparently to disable him from doing wandless magic.

But wait a moment. Severus had moved! Merlin, yes! He was still alive. Fishing for his wand, he sent up red sparks to alert Albus and the others. Then, with infinite care, he gathered the Potions master to him, wrapping the cape again around his wounded body. "Sev... This is all my fault. I ... I couldn't keep my mouth shut." Once again, the full meaning of what he had learned only hours ago hit the animagus. Endless years wasted because of Lucius, who was getting close to becoming Sirius' new arch-nemesis. But, truth be told, it was the Gryffindors fault, and not Malfoy's. If he had only trusted Severus...

Finally, the tears could not be held back anymore. They clouded Sirius' vision as he gazed at the broken form of his ... not lover. In the past month, they hadn't been lovers, no. Fuck-buddies was more accurate. Sirius hadn't made love to Severus, no. He had tried to fuck Lucius out of the Potions masters system. How very stupid he had been. It would have been so easy, so easy to ask the simple question. 'Why? Why did you do it? Why Lucius?' But Sirius had nourished his hate, had been afraid of what he might find out. And he had hurt Severus, had brought this upon the man he had loved since his sixth year.

A calming hand was placed upon Sirius' shoulder, and he heard the mumbled apparition spell. Moments later, they were in the brightly-lit hospital wing of Hogwarts, Sirius still holding on to Severus' still form.

"Let Poppy take care of him, my boy." Albus' voice was washing over the animagus like a warm wave, and slowly he eased his death-grip.

Madame Pomfrey had been there when they had appeared, and had immediately started to move her wand over the Potions master's body, trying to discern which of his wounds needed her immediate attention. Now, she caught Sirius' eyes, a thin smile upon her lips. "Place him on that bed, would you? And don't worry, he'll live. But I will need to make him sleep now."

Doing as he was told, he gently lay his precious burden upon the white sheets, staining them with red. Sitting down on a chair by the side of the bed, he took Severus' hand, making it obvious that he had no intention of leaving. Poppy turned to Albus, sending him a pleading gaze. But the Headmaster shook his silver head. "Let him stay. I will inform his godson..."

But the door already burst open, and an angry Draco Malfoy appeared, Harry and Hermione at his heals. Harry threw himself into his lover's arms who had just appeared beside Albus. Malfoy junior strode to the bed, and towered over Sirius. "This is your fault, all your bloody fault! He could have been killed..."

"Draco," Hermione tried, but the animagus shook his head to stop her. "Let him speak... I deserve his scorn, and more..."

"You little piece of shit. You're no better than my precious father... You..." Hermione's arms came around the blond Slytherin just before he slumped to the floor. "Sev-erus," sobbing, he leaned back in Hermione's embrace.

Gazing around herself, she suddenly asked, "Hang on. How could you apparate here? You can't apparate into Hogwarts."

"Oh, thank you, Miss Granger, for reminding me." Dumbledore moved his wand, and a blue light filled the hospital, slowly fading away. "We knew that Severus would need Poppy's help as soon as possible, so we enabled Apparition ... for only a few minutes, and only for the hospital wing." His eyes twinkled, as he continued, "Now, with that taken care of, I suggest you and Mr Malfoy return to the Tower." Draco was about to speak up, when the Headmaster added, "No harm shall befall your godfather, you have my word."

Rising to his feet, Draco glared down at Sirius. "With him around Severus, nothing but harm can befall him."

The animagus held the silver gaze, and whispered, "I will do everything in my power to right the wrongs I have done him. I swear." More quietly he added, "I love him, and I will spent the rest of my days proving that to him; to all of you."

Harry, who had been busy holding on to Remus until then, suddenly stated dryly, "Looks to me like we're going to be godbrothers."

Draco's blond head snapped around, and his eyes narrowed to slits as he spat out, "You wish, Potter!"

Poppy seemed to have had enough, and all but ordered, "OUT! Severus needs his rest. Only the Headmaster and Sirius may stay. The rest of you, OUT!"

Gracing Sirius with another glare - one that made Hermione smile apologetically at the former Marauder - the Slytherin walked towards the door. Before he stepped out of the infirmary, however, he turned again towards Harry. "Looks to me like our godfathers may indeed become an item, and we all know who will wear the pants in that relationship... Anyway, I think we should give them the chance to spent some quality time together." Only those who knew the blond well saw the worry in his eyes; anyone else would have taken his words at face value. "So, let's leave them in peace, brother." Then he was away, Harry on his heals.

Hermione just shrugged. "Well, I'll see that they don't hex each other into next week. Good luck, Sirius." Then she followed her lover and friend out of the hospital wing.

Sirius was gazing at Severus' face, seeing new lines of worry that hadn't been there weeks ago. "You were right, Remus. I should have talked to him. I loved him so much then, but I didn't trust him enough, I guess. This is all my fault." Turning his tear-stained face to his friend, he went on. "The night before the incident I saw Malfoy and Severus in the dungeons; only it wasn't Severus. All these years I thought he had been unfaithful. But even had that been the truth, I should have talked to him..."

Remus had advanced upon his friend, and was now kneeling by his side. "Yes, you should have. But it is not too late for you; not yet. I know that he still loves you, Siri. I think he loved you all these years. No matter what you have done to him, he never got over you. Just like you never got over him." His amber eyes sparkled as he muttered, "Remember what's in your pocket..." Getting to his feet again, he nodded to both Albus and Poppy, and then left as well.

The Headmaster only smiled, "I think Remus is right, Sirius." Turning his steel-blue eyes to the nurse, he asked, "Will he be alright, Poppy?"

Madame Pomfrey, who had been casting spells throughout the whole discussion, smiled and nodded, "He'll be as good as new. I guess they left him to bleed to death. Unfortunately for them, Severus is more powerful then they ever gave him credit for..."

Eyes twinkling merrily, and a song upon his lips, Albus followed the others lead, leaving only Poppy, Sirius and Severus in the infirmary.


FIN.