A Push in the Right Direction – Chapter 4 – emersli1!

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June was fast approaching, and with the Spring it seemed life was bursting out all over.

Everywhere except the dungeons of Hogwarts.

Severus was just holding on.  He had not wanted to leave in the middle of his contract year.  It was difficult to find teachers in the first place.  The pay was awful and the conditions were dismal.  He had felt honor-bound to stay through the end of the year.

But soon …  soon he would be free.

“Hello, my boy.  I was going through my papers, and realized .. so many things have been lost in the shuffle around here.  The celebrations, and then the trials …”  Dumbledore gave Severus a significant look.

Master Gaiar had been right, as it happened.  In the wake of the war, being a Death Eater was criminalized.  Severus’s own trial had been swift.  He anticipated a sentence of some sort, given that he didn’t have the gold to bribe the Ministry officials.  

Surprisingly though Dumbledore had spoken for him.  Claimed he’d been a spy in Voldemort’s ranks.  It had gotten him out of jail and back to the classroom, which was just another type of jail if you asked him.  But nothing could save his reputation.

Now when he left the protection of Hogwarts, he was a target for both sides.  Severus had grown accustomed to being ignored, spit on, and even pelted with trash.  He thought of the cool mountains of Andorra waiting for him.  Just a few more weeks, and he could leave this name, this country, and this life behind.

Dumbledore continued speaking, “Well, I’m sure I don’t need to say more about that.  But anyway, I realized in all the hustle and bustle, I overlooked having the professors sign their contracts for next year.”  The old man took one of the parchments from the stack in his arms and laid it on the desk in front of Severus.

“Oh.  Well, thank you for the offer, Headmaster, but I think I’ve determined that teaching really isn’t my forte.  I’m not planning to return in the Fall.”  Severus was as polite as he could manage, considering he’d sent his letter of resignation to the Board of Governors six weeks ago.

“Well, you see, that’s the thing, my boy.  You definitely will be returning.  I took the liberty of intercepting your ill-considered letter of resignation, and I’ve certainly been patient.  I’ve given you plenty of time to rethink your decision.  I hoped I wouldn’t have to do this…”

Severus looked at the man in confusion.  Confusion which quickly turned to horrified understanding as he felt a sharp, burning tug on the back of his shoulder.  When had Dumbledore?  Had he really?  Marked him?  Thinking back, he remembered the hand on his shoulder after he signed his first contract.

It hadn’t been the horrible, burning pain of the Dark Mark.  Just a small sting.  But it hardly mattered.  Severus felt the tug against his magic, in rhythm with the tug at his shoulder.

“There, you see.  He isn’t truly gone.  We will need a spy again.  And until then, there is no reason to allow your talent to go to waste working in some shop somewhere, assuming you could even find a position… what with the recent damage to your reputation.  No, my boy.  Much better you stay here.  And perhaps you’ll learn to like teaching, once you resign yourself to the position.”  Dumbledore was still looking at him with that blasted twinkle, as though this were all some delightful prank he’d pulled off.

“One thing though.  This year we’ll be using the summer to rework the warding around the castle and grounds, so none of the staff will be able to stay at Hogwarts over the break.”  Dumbledore collected the parchment Severus had signed almost by rote.  “Take the time to travel a bit.  Enjoy yourself.  Just don’t go too far.”

The sharp look belied the twinkle, as did the sharp tug at his magic.

Severus sat at his desk for a long time that night, contemplating this latest in a long line of betrayals.  Who knew when the Dark Lord would be re-embodied?  Severus could moulder at this desk for a century, waiting.

He had no idea where to stay over the break.  He wasn’t about to go home (his heart ached for the cozy little bedroom with the fireplace) so long as he was trackable.  Severus couldn’t do that, couldn’t give up the last bit of hope that someday he might be free.

Well, Severus would figure it out.  He always did.

Severus stood outside the Leaky Cauldron.

He had made his way from Hogwarts, by apparition to Diagon Alley.  Almost all his personal items were in the small bag he carried.  Somehow he didn’t trust that they’d be undisturbed if he didn’t carry them with him.

Severus could easily see his employer tampering with something, just as extra insurance.  He could also imagine one or more of his colleagues vandalizing his rooms in his absence.  And the Headmaster would no doubt think it all great fun, just as he had when James Potter had defaced the only picture he had of his mother.

Walking through the Alley to the Leaky had been like running a gauntlet, but now Severus was outside.  He still didn’t have any idea where he was going long-term, but for tonight he had a reservation at a modest hotel within walking distance of the Leaky Cauldron.  

All he needed was for the light to change.

Just as the light changed and traffic began to move, Severus felt a hand on his back giving him a hard push.  He was caught by surprise and stumbled, trying to catch his balance on the curb.  But to no avail.

Severus felt himself stagger into the roadway, and looked up to see a large vehicle coming his way.  The driver had obviously been watching the light impatiently, and at the change had surged forward, eager to get to wherever he was going.  Now the man looked horrified as he tried frantically to get his brakes to engage.

The impact was like nothing Severus had ever felt before, and that was from someone who’d both been beaten unconscious by his father and crucio’d by the Dark Lord.  As he flew over the bonnet of the automobile, he hit the windscreen face-first feeling a sickening crunch as his facial bones collapsed.

His body rolled off the car and into the road, where he lay bleeding where he had fallen.  A man’s knees hit the ground beside his head, a panicked voice calling for help.  “Please, please, please… I swear I didn’t see you … please don’t die.  Help is coming.  I’ve already sent someone to call for help, please…”

Severus coughed weakly, tasting more blood as it ran over his lips.  He couldn’t talk, but the honest distress of the man who had hit him demanded some sort of response.  He raised one of his arms, probably broken but at this point all the pain just blended in together, and grasped the man’s hand weakly.  He tried to squeeze it to let him know it was alright.

Indeed this stranger had shown him more compassion than two different men who were actually contractually obligated to care for him.  Severus heard sirens in the distance, which cut off abruptly as he struggled to pull in one more breath.  “He’s still alive!  Please, hurry!”

More knees hit the ground beside him.  “Hey there fella, can you tell me your name?”

Severus couldn’t speak, but he was wearing his muggle clothing which included his battered old wallet.  He tried to reach his pocket, but couldn’t manage to control his arms.  

“No, that’s ok.  We’ll get the info at the hospital.  We’re gonna get this collar on ya…” The paramedic suited actions to words.  “And then we’re gonna roll ya over onto the board…”

Severus felt himself lifted and carried somewhere, sliding into a small space.  He vaguely realized it must be an ambulance, as his consciousness began to fade out.

“Oh bugger all, he’s crashing.  We need to intubate…”

Severus sensed freedom at the edge of his awareness.  Desperately he reached for it.

And died.