The more Niger spoke the darker Snape's face became, and the faster Niger tried to get it all out.  Niger couldn't believe how good it felt to finally be telling someone about everything.  Absolutely everything.

Snape made a slight choking noise when Niger used Voldemort's name, but at that point, Niger couldn't have stopped talking if he had tried, though he did vaguely remember Snape himself using the name not long ago.  Snape bared his teeth in a snarl as Niger spoke of the dream-like vision that he'd had and what Quintin had agreed to do if Niger got in the way.  Niger was about to mention what he thought the spell on Dumbledore was when he realized what he was saying.  He stopped abruptly and began panting as though he'd been running for miles.

I know what it is.  I know the curse they put on Dumbledore.  How could I possibly know that?  His emotions must have been playing on his face (Careful, Niger.  Control!) because Snape had one of those searching looks on his face.  Niger wondered briefly if he'd taken lessons on intimidating looks from Dumbledore.

To Niger's surprise, though, Snape made no comment on his sudden halt.  "So, Lily and James Potter were your parents."  Snape's face was an emotionless mass that Niger envied him at the moment.  What happened to my calm?  Niger, mate, you're losing it!  All Niger could do was nod and try vainly to slow his panted breathing.

"You know," Snape started tentatively.  "Your parents are the reason I didn't join Voldemort."  Niger didn't even realize this time how easily Snape had said the Dark Lord's name.  The rest of what Snape had admitted took up too much attention.

"What…" was all Niger could get out before his voice failed him.

Snape nodded.  "It's true.  Lucius thinks that I didn't realize that he had gone on to join Voldemort after school.  I knew.  I was tempted too.  But I couldn't."  Snape stood and walked to within a few feet of one of the walls as though there would be a window there if he just looked hard enough.  "James was always horrible to me at school.  I treated him no better though, so I suppose I can't really blame him.  Then one day it just stopped; all the ridicule, all the hexing and verbal abuse.  One day he was cursing the living daylights out of me and the next…  I don't know what happened."  Snape turned back to Niger, a confused look on his face.  "I asked him several years on, and he wouldn't tell me.  He seemed confused about it himself, but I know he knew.  His friends, Sirius the ladies man and Peter the lackey – they didn't stop, but James did.  Remus the bookworm stopped too, but Sirius and Peter treated me the same as always.

"It was not long after that when James and Lily finally got together."  Snape stopped to smile reminiscently at Niger.  "He'd been in love with her since the sorting our first year, and she'd hated him for just as long.  At first I though she was the reason he had stopped messing with me and that it would just start up again.  It didn't."  Snape sighed as though exhausted and slumped back down in the chair.  It creaked dangerously under his weight, but he didn't seem to notice or care.

"When my dad kicked me out of the house the summer before our seventh year, it was James that took me in.  If it hadn't been for James, I know I would have ended up staying with Lucius and things would be a lot different right now.  I'm glad they turned out like they did."  He looked worriedly at Niger.  "For the most part, that is."

Niger realized suddenly that he had a very painful lump in the back of his throat that was making breathing all but impossible.  He opened his mouth to take a breath only to release a sob.  That one hopeless sound was all Niger needed to force back his calm.  You almost cried Niger.  You really need to pull yourself together.

Niger cleared his throat roughly and began pacing as well.  "That's not important now," Niger stated, as though Snape's admission hadn't just turned his world upside-down.  "Now I need to know how I can get you out of here.  I've told you everything, now I need you to tell me who will believe my story.  Who else can we involve in this?"

Snape turned back to the wall in front of him and braced himself against it with his hands.  "No one," Snape sighed as he heard the chocking noise coming from Niger's throat.  "If there was a way to tell all of that without admitting that you were tied to Voldemort somehow it may work.  But you were right; as soon as they find that out, you would be in here as easily as I am."  Niger swore loudly.  Snape smiled slowly.  "What?  You're not glad you were right for once."

Niger glanced at Snape in disgust.  "So what now, then?"

"What indeed."  Niger and Snape stared at each other for a few seconds before they were interrupted.

"I have an idea," said a voice from the hallway.

-----------------

-groans-  I know, that was a really bad ending and a really short chapter.  I'm really sorry.  I've got some serious writer's block going on here, so be glad that I actually finished the chapter.  I think I know what I'm going to have happen next, but I need some time to think about it, and this was the best place for me to stop in order to do this thinking.  Sorry again.

Adenara Yatman and Kimmerz:  Thanks!

Emmy:  Augh!  I can't imagine still being in school at this time of year…I've been done for almost a month already.  Anywha, thanks so much; I hope you liked this chapter, and I apologize again for it being so short…

Ironic-humor:  Thanks, I'm glad you like it!!

HermioneHP:  :P  lol  Yeah, this one is short too.  But, hey!  At least I'm updating, right?  Hehehe

Darkmoon Fluer:  Well, I'm not sure you can really tell who's side Niger is on right now.  I mean, at the moment, he's on Snape's side, but that doesn't mean that things can't change –winks-

BlackHuntress:  Well, there you go.  Hope you liked this.

Spaced Out Space Cadet: I hope you still like Snape after this chapter.  It is a little bit OOC, but that's completely understandable, considering the rest of the story…

Wizardmon92:  I actually have no idea whatsoever what you meant by that comment, but I can't help feeling offended…

MissCorker:  Well, I'm glad you finally did decide to read this :)  And I'm also glad you like it so much.  I hope that you continue reading it, and I really hope you still like it!  -grins-

Sami1010220:  Um…I used to know another story kind of like this, but I can't remember what it was anymore…  It was very poorly written though, so I'm not sure you'd want to read it anyway –blushes- I feel bad saying that, but it's very true…  

Sorry also for this being so late.  It took a while to finish.  I don't know when the next chapter will be because I'm not sure how long it will take me to write it.  I'll be starting my second job this week too, so I'm not sure when I'll have time to write, but rest assured, I will write it as soon as I have the time.  Reviews please!!