Prolog: When Pigs Grow Wings

"Severus, don't you think it's wrong for you to be out with all those women?" Minerva pleads, trying to talk him out of going to meet the prostitute he'd hired.

"I see nothing wrong with it. If they're foolish enough to offer themselves in such a way then they deserve to be taken advantage of." He snaps. "Besides, after the hell I went through for the sake of the Order during the war, I think the wizarding world owes me the opportunity to enjoy myself."

"And what happens when you find a young woman who catches your interest on a more personal level?" Albus's portrait points out, "How do you think she'll feel, knowing you shared yourself with so many other women? You'll have nothing to offer her."

"I'm not surprised." Severus sneers, "Even in death you can't mind your own bloody business."

"He has a point, Severus." Minerva insists, "You'll fall in love someday."

"Yes," he returns sarcastically, "when pigs grow wings and fly."

Severus confidently makes his way into Knockturn Alley and into the third building on his right, emerging into a dimly lit pub. Looking around, he catches sight of a woman with fiery red hair that almost comes to life in the flickering light from the well stoked fireplace. He approaches her and sits down across from her without bothering to wait for an invitation. She studies him carefully.

"Did you bring the money?" she demands.

"And the polyjuice potion." He confirms.

She smirks and pushes her drink towards him. "Finish my firewhiskey and we'll go somewhere a bit more private." She requests.

Severus downs her drink quickly and sits the glass back down. His breath catches in his chest and panic grips him as his vision goes blurry. The room starts spinning as he rises to his feet

…and collapses.