Author's Note: Severus belongs to Ms. Rowling,
who could treat him better. If she ever wants to sell, I have first dibs.
The story is mine. I appriciate reviews of all sorts, even flames, but
if you flame me, I will flame back. I've borrowed one of Charlie Weasley's
dragons for the express purpose of burning nasty readers. This story is
for Mr. Alan Rickman, who looks like he's going to be an excellent Snape.
***
She said no. I still cannot believe she said no.
I thought she loved me. I thought we were going to be together for the
rest of our lives. I was wrong.
"Mariel," I got down on one knee in
the grass in front of her. She looked at me, confused. "Mariel, I
wanted you to meet me here for one reason. I love you more than life,
Mariel Castlemore. Will you marry me?"
"Oh, Severus," She put a hand over
her mouth. "Sev, come inside. I have to tell you something."
She drew me up and led me indoors. I went mutely, dreading what she would
say. I did not want to face the crowd inside Hogwarts, where the Graduation
Ball was still going on.
We stopped in an alcove not far from the Great
Hall. She drew a chain from her robes. On it sparkled the ring I had been
dreading.
"I'm so sorry, Severus. Roger asked me
this morning. I said yes. You'll always be my friend, Sev. And I will
write."
"I never should have asked. You're a Mudblood
and a G-Gryffindor. Father would not approve. Professor Dumbledore has
asked me to stay on as Potions Master. I won't be seeing you again, Mariel.
Good-bye." She stood there, stricken, as I walked away. I did not
look back.
I have never looked back. I thanked the Headmaster,
and, in a fit of appalling rudeness, told him I had more important things
to do. He smiled and wished me well. I accepted Lucius Malfoy's offer
to join the growing forces of Lord Voldemort. Severus Snape became a Death
Eater. I was one of Lord Voldemort's most trusted servants. And now Voldemort
is ruined. I doubt that he will recover.
He was getting too proud, too sure of his own power.
Voldemort failed to learn from the defeat of Grindelwald and others before
him. This made him vulnerable. If the Potter boy hadn't finished him off,
someone else would have, perhaps I myself. If he does recover, I shall
set myself against him. Not openly, like an idealistic fool, but secretly.
I was not a Slytherin for nothing.
What happened between then and now I had rather
forget. I cannot. But what turned me back, what kept me going all through
the trials, what will let me sleep tonight, is the fact that after all
those horrible things I did, the Headmaster's offer still stood. He trusted
me, a former Death Eater, enough to honor, a promise made years ago.
Albus Dumbledore single-handedly brought me back to the light.
So now I'm a Professor, a respected, if not very
well liked, member of the Hogwarts faculty. They elected me Head of Slytherin,
an honor I do not deserve.
Mariel is happily married. I assume she has children
and a little house in the country. I cannot forget her. I do not want
to forget her. Perhaps she remembers the old Severus, a foolish boy who
dared to believe in dreams.
Fin
