Tired.

Chapter 17

The fresh Scottish air-filled Severus' lungs as he landed outside the grounds of Hogwarts. His legs moved of their own accord; he barely had time to register that he was walking.

"This cannot be true." Severus said to no one. "I would have known. I am a spy! That's my bloody job! Bellatrix is to dull to pull this stunt, and Albus. Albus is always careful."

Severus found himself at the doors of Hogwarts, he stopped. He knew. He knew that Lupin and Black would not lie about something as serious as this matter and Draco would never have been part of any prank of Blacks. If Veritaserum was also used, then it all was true. Severus felt his skin prickle on his left arm. He rolled the sleeves of his black jacket back to look. The black ink seemed to have gotten darker since Voldemort had died. It seemed to almost shine in the Scottish dusk. He remembered standing in the room with all the other Death Eaters and he was in the middle. The pain that came with this mark was one that he would never forget. The pain of the curse cutting into his skin was so horrible he nearly passed out. But also, the pain of becoming something he had once been forced to go through before was overbearing. The pain that hurt the most was having his mentor, the man who he spent hours sitting with and talked to him about his fears and his dreams, had ordered him to become a spy and take the mark.

A rage that Severus had never felt, came over him. He took off in a sprint. Three pairs of running footsteps were trying to catch up to him. He never noticed. Severus reached Albus' office in record time. He spit the password and took the stairs three at a time only to reach the top and stop once again. His body was shaking, his skin was on fire and his breathing was uncontrollable. He needed to pull himself together, he couldn't go in like this. He needed composer, he needed to calm his emotions, discipline his mind. He heard the footsteps of the three men come up behind him. A hand reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Severus expected for the hand to belong to Draco when he turned around but was stunned to see Sirius.

"I can not even imagine the emotions you are felling right now Severus. You have every right to feel them, but please understand that Albus is very weak. Do not take your anger out on him. Save it for Bellatrix."

"That's the plan." Severus hissed and turned the Knob.

Severus stepped into an office that seemed to feel lighter and some what calming. He saw Albus sitting in his desk chair petting Fawkes who seemed happier than he had been in years. Albus did not look at him, they did not speak, Severus simply walked over to Albus' desk and picked up a vial. He had to know for himself. He turned to Draco.

"Show me."

Draco took out his wand and walked over to the bookcases, he waved his wand and a section moved away to reveal the passageway to Bellatrix. Draco went to step forward when Albus spoke.

"Stay Draco." Albus almost whispered.

Severus nodded to Draco and lit his wand. He began to walk, his heartbeat echoing in the stone passageway. He reached the door and slowly turned the knob, asking Salazar for strength not to lose his shit as soon as he walked in the door. Severus took a breath, stilled his heart and threw open the door with a loud bang.

Bellatrix sat at the desk that Albus once sat at. Her face went white in fear as soon as the door was thrown open and Severus Snape stalked in.

"Come now Bella. I did not take you for a coward." Severus purred through clenched teeth. "Get up. I hear you have a story to tell me."

Bellatrix stayed where she was. If she moved, he would attack her. If she didn't move, he would probably kill her.

"To long!" Roared Severus, he reached over the desk to grab a fist full of Bellatrix's hair.

He pulled her up and over the desk and made her stand in front of him. With his hand still entangled in her hair, Severus dug out the bottle of Veritaserum from his jacket. He pulled the cork from the bottle with his teeth and spit it to the floor.

"Open!" He demanded

Bellatrix obeyed and let the large amount of liquid flow down her throat. Her eyes glassed over for the second time in 24 hours. Her body tingled and her mouth felt of cotton.

"Who are you?" Severus spit, bringing her closer to his face.

"Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Is it true that you kidnapped Albus Dumbledore and held him in this very room?" he glared at her.

"Yes."

Severus threw her away from him.

"Tell me. From the beginning. Everything." He yelled thrusting her into the chair.

And so, she began, again. She told Severus how she was able to fool Albus into being kidnapped. How she had talked Severus into becoming a spy and Death Eater. How she purposefully degraded and broke Potter over and over. She explained how much joy she got from watching pieces of Potter break right before her eyes. She told him the whole reason that this went on so long was for Potter to become the new Dark Lord.

"I never would have let you have him." Severus said his hands clenching and unclenching.

Bellatrix laughed. The sound piercing Severus' ears and making him cringe.

"oh, sweet Severus. I was so close. He was so broken and so alone. I made you Severus.

I made you into the noble Dark Lord follower that you are. I would have had him, and he would have made the blood traitors and Mudbloods bow before us." Bellatrix spat.

"You did not make me into anything! I played my roll because you forced me too! I thought you were Albus! I thought Albus asked, no told me too, it was all you! YOU DESTROYED MY FUCKING LIFE. You made me destroy Harry's! All for what? Absolutely fucking nothing! You have always been on the wrong side Bella. As for Harry, he would have died before he betrayed this world."

"It's Harry now is it?" Bellatrix smiled. "Are you planning on screwing the golden boy- "

A crack rang throughout the room. Severus' hand stung from the contact it made with Bellatrix face.

"Hold your tongue." Severus growled. Leaning forward he said,

"You do not get to speak of him, to think about him. Do you understand? He's mine. As much as you tried to break him, I saved him. I will always save him, Bellatrix. Always."

"So, the Potion Master has falling in love with a blood traitor. Didn't take you for a faggot Snape. Potter yes, You no."

With out warning Severus reached forward in one motion pulling his wand out with his right hand and grabbing Bellatrix by the throat with the other. He placed the tip of his wand on the left side of Bellatrix face and dragged it downwards, making a deep cut as he went.

"I already told you to hold your tongue, do I need to remove it? Because I will not hesitate too Bellatrix. You may have forced me into the Death Eaters circle, but I know how to act like one. Its in my blood. I will destroy you and I will take pleasure in doing so."

Bellatrix spat in his face. Severus smiled, showing all his teeth.

"Have it your way then. Crucio."

The scream echoed off the walls. Severus didn't care, to be honest he missed the screams of those under the curse. He had been under it many times. By Voldemort and Bellatrix, but Albus had always had tea for him when he returned from meetings. More rage came over him. It never was Albus.

"19 years! You screwed with me for 19 years. You ruined so many lives. Mine, Harry's. Albus. You ruined Albus' reputation!" Severus cast Crucio at her again. No one could hear her scream. No one would care anyways.

"I am branded because of you. I killed people because of you. Lily was killed because of you!"

Bellatrix wiped the blood from her eyes, panting she said,

"Severus, you got her killed. You are the one who told the Dark Lord about the Prophecy."

"YOU TOLD ME TOO! Sectumsempra!" Severus screamed the curse.

It hit Bellatrix in her left arm, screaming from pain and frustration.

"I never told you to do shit Severus!"

"I went to Albus after I heard it, and he told me to tell Voldemort. You told me! You did. I sold Lily and James out to Voldemort because you told me too!"

"Severus You didn't have to listen to what I told you. You were a big boy. You could have walked away." Bellatrix gasped as stinging jinx hit her in her wounded arm.

"So, you could have gotten me killed. No Bellatrix, you left me no choice. I had to do it. I had to tell Voldemort. You would have told him that I had kept something from him. So, I had to." Severus was losing his control. He was starting to see red around the edge of his vision. Then something occurred to him. "You kept Harry away from me. That night, the night Lily and James were killed, I asked Albus for him, asked you for him and you told me no. You told me I would hand him over to Voldemort. You placed him with his relatives knowing about the blood wards, why?" Severus asked.

"I didn't know about the blood wards. I didn't know that when Voldemort returned, he wouldn't be able to walk through the front door and kill him. If I did, I would have placed him with you, so he was able to be touched." Bellatrix shouted.

Severus chuckled.

"Not so smart are you Bellatrix."

"Look who's talking. You're branded forever Severus. No one will ever want you with his mark on your arm. Not even your broken little Potter!"

Severus didn't even draw his wand. He kicked her where she laid, and he kicked her again. He moved his leg back to kick her again when an arm grabbed him and pulled him away. Draco dragged him to the door and pushed him out.

"Do not be what she wants you to be. You are better than that. So much better. Are you ok?" Draco asked his eyes full of concern.

"I am fine, Draco just lost my temper. My apologies." Severus stated while moving a piece of hair from his face and straightening his jacket.

"You do not have to apologies Severus. I personally would have killed her by now. I am impressed with your will." Draco chuckled. "The Headmaster has called the Auros. I am sure they will want them to do everything we have already done over again."

They made their way out of the passage, Draco walking beside Severus with his hand on his lower back. When they reached the mouth of the passageway back to Albus office, Sirius and Remus where sitting down in the chairs by the fire and Albus was looking out the window at the Grounds. When the passage behind them closed Albus turned to look at Severus for the first time. The twinkle that had been missing for 19 years was back in his mentors' eyes. The kind smile of the man he had know when he was younger was there on his face. This is the man he grew up with. This is the man who Harry should have had looking out for him. Severus eyes started to tear up. Thinking of how different his life would have been and Albus done something he hadn't seen in 19 years. He opened his arms to Severus.

"Severus, its not your fault." Albus whispered and took Severus into his arms.

Severus could not hold back his tears any longer. He cried into Albus' robes holding the man and shaking. Albus petted his head, letting him know he was never going to be alone again.

Remus, Sirius and Draco quickly excused themselves from Albus' office to let the two men have a moment to catch up, and for Severus to heal.