Secrets in the Dark

Chapter 5: S.O.S.

The rumbling of his stomach awoke him late the following morning. The delicious smell of cinnamon and vanilla was tickling his sensitive nose, and he felt as if he had not eaten for ages. Slowly, Severus opened his eyes. Still the same room, the same picture above the bed, but the sea was calm now and seagulls were floating on the merry waves. There was nobody in the room besides him, but a tray with fragrant, creamy porridge was placed on the bedside table. And the usual mug of sage tea. He sat up and reached for the compelling dish. The flavor was even better than the scent. He couldn't remember ever having eaten something so delicious.

From the adjacent room he could hear low murmurs. Was it the Headmaster's voice? He was almost positive. A female voice he identified as Professor McGonagall's. But there were more voices, voices he couldn't place. The low droning and the warm and satiated feeling in his stomach made him sleepy again. He dozed off on a cloud of vanilla and cinnamon.

********

In the meantime, the discussion in the Headmaster's office took on a fiercer note. Alastor Moody, renowned veteran-auror, and Sirius Black, one of the younger members of the Order of the Phoenix, were standing and agitatedly trying to talk Dumbledore out of the plan he had just outlined.

"He admitted himself that he helped torture and murder half a dozen innocent Muggles at least, not to speak of the three Ministry aurors and their families! How can you possibly think of letting the bloody Death Eater go free, Albus?!"

"I never said I would let him go free, Alastor. I only asked you to consider the possibility of offering Mr. Snape a second chance under the condition that he works for us as a spy. Given that he can satisfactorily answer the remaining questions and is willing to join our side and take the oath, that is."

"You would admit the greasy git into the Order? He's a bloody sneaking, treacherous Slytherin! He'd sell us to his bloody master the second he got out of here!" Sirius foamed, trembling with frustration.

"Sit and calm down, mate. Honestly!" James Potter had put a hand on his best friend's shoulder and firmly pressed him back into his seat. "Albus would never do anything rash or dangerous. You know that. And we dearly need a spy in Voldemort's ranks. We haven't been able to prevent a single raid yet, safe a single life, in spite of all the sweat and work we've been putting into the Order. Voldemort has been outwitting us for years. The Inner circle of the Death Eaters, think of it! A spy there could make the difference, could give us the upper hand for once, don't you understand?"

"But why the hell Snivellus of all people? Would you ever trust him?"

"Nope. But I trust Albus Dumbledore, and if he trusts the guy ..."

"Once a murderer, always a murderer. That's what I say." Alastor grumbled, his magical eye rotating dangerously in its socket.

"I never said I trusted young Mr. Snape. But I have learned a couple of things about the boy that made me wonder whether he ever had a choice. He has yet to earn our trust, but I'm ready to give him a try, a second chance. And I dare say he'll take it." There was conviction in Dumbledore's voice.

"What if we set him free and he kills again? Those deaths would be on our conscience!"

"Alastor, I'm positive Severus won't do any such thing. I have never seen anybody so guilt-ridden and full of remorse as this young man. He even asked for the Dementors' Kiss."

"I'd have gladly fulfilled his request. That's what a Death Eater deserves, remorse or not. You won't sway me, Albus!"

"I didn't expect to, Alastor. But what about the others? Minerva is with me, I know. James?"

"If you make sure he won't be privy to any vital information about the Order of the Phoenix, I'm for a second chance."

"Not a word about the Order from my lips. What about you, Alice, Frank?" Dumbledore smiled at the newly wed Longbottoms.

"Second chance." The answer came synchronously.

"Emmeline? Dedalus? Elphias? Remus?"

The wizards nodded their consent.

"What about you, Sirius?"

"Bloody hell, no!" the still upset wizard roared. "Let that human filth go free? You can't be serious!"

"No, I'm Albus." Dumbledore forced a smile. Then, turning to the other members of the Order's core group, he continued, "That makes it nine versus two for a second chance, if I'm correct. I'll inform you about the outcome of my further negotiations with Mr. Snape as soon as possible, then. You are certainly aware of the delicacy of the matter, so no word to anybody. Not even to Lily or Peter." There was a slight warning in the Headmaster's voice as his gaze met the eyes of the notorious triplet that was James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin.

"Our lips are sealed," James assured, and Remus nodded in assent. But Sirius was still boiling with anger. When they left the Headmaster's office, he confronted his best friend.

"There were times when you wouldn't have thought twice before throwing that sniveling piece of shit to the Dementors! You have changed, James, changed a lot since you married Lily."

"Then it's high time for you to find yourself a wife, mate, if that's what it takes!" James chuckled and slapped his grumbling friend heartily on the shoulder. "There are many beautiful girls out there waiting for you, old Padfoot, get one and start a dynasty!"

"The problem is there are too many. I can't possibly pick just one and break the hearts of all the others!" Sirius grinned broadly. He couldn't stay angry with his friend for long. "What about the Potter-dynasty, by the way?"

"We are working on it." A dreamy smile stole into James's expression. "You'll be the first one to know, promised."

*************************

He was wandering along a beautiful shore. The ocean lay calm and glittering in the sunshine. A gentle breeze caressed his face and left faint traces of salt on his lips. The scenery looked somehow familiar, but he was sure he hadn't been there before. Flocks of seagulls were circling high in the air or floating on the silvery water. He wandered on for a while, savoring the peace and quietude of the place. Suddenly, a dark shadow fell upon the land. Black clouds were gathering, quickly blotting out the sun and the blue of the sky. The seagulls cried out and vanished. A cold wind hit Severus in the face, but he couldn't turn and run for shelter. He was rooted to the spot, breathing heavily against the storm, and staring down at the sea in horror. The merry blue waves had transformed into leaden walls of foaming water, which were advancing on him inescapably. Through the howl of the gale, he heard a cold, menacing voice:

"You cannot run from me, Ssseverusss! You are mine, my creature, bound to the dark. You bear my Mark. I will never let you go!" And with those words, the waves were upon him. Severus fought for his bare life against the combined onslaught of storm and water, struggled for a single gasping breath.

"Help me!" he cried desperately and reached out with his hand. To his utter surprise, it met with something warm and alive. He held on to this something with all his might. The storm was shaking him, slapping him in the face. Now, there was another voice, hardly audible through the deafening gale at first, but growing stronger and more urgent.

"Severus, wake up! It's only a bad dream! Severus!" Albus Dumbledore had been trying to wake the wildly thrashing and kicking young man, finally resorting to shaking and gently slapping him, but to no avail. He seemed to be locked in a terrible nightmare, his hand clutching convulsively at Albus's thigh in his troubled sleep.

"Severus!" Finally, the boy's lids with the long black lashes began to flutter, and Severus opened his panic-filled eyes.

"Help me, Headmaster," he whispered, the terrible dream still lingering in his mind, "I'm drowning."