Escape from Hogwarts

Severus Snape strode magnificently through the corridor, scattering idiotic students left and right. There were days – most every day, really – when he fervently regretted ever having become a schoolmaster. His vast knowledge of his subject aside, he was most ill-suited by both inclination and temperament to teach children. He absolutely loathed the moronic little creatures.

Some, of course, were worse than others. He sighed, seeing one such monster come strutting by, looking for all the world like his arrogant, conceited father. The Black brat's bright blue eyes narrowed when he saw Severus.

'Hello, Snivellus,' he growled.

Severus rolled his eyes inwardly. The foolish Gryffindors still thought that their childish taunts could affect him. He had become immune to them long ago.

'Twenty points from Gryffindor for your disrespect, Black,' he said silkily, in his mind fantasising about a hundred different ways he could torture the brat's father. He felt a rush of pleasure at the idea, and curled his lip cruelly.

The Black brat glared back at him, and Severus could have sworn he saw a red glint appear momentarily in the boy's eye. Black hissed below his breath, and a sudden pain ripped through Severus's left forearm.

The Dark Mark, he thought in horror. He kept his expression firmly under control, however. Only a wince betrayed the immense agony he felt. He grabbed the Black brat by the shoulder and dragged him into an empty classroom before slamming the door shut.

'Do you care to explain yourself, Mr Black?' he demanded.

'I don't see why I should have to explain myself to a filthy Death Eater like you,' Black replied quietly. He hissed again, and this time Severus fell to his knees. The Dark Lord had tied all manner of unique tortures into the Dark Mark. In fact, he often boasted that he could kill a Death Eater without even being in his physical proximity. Severus had no idea how this boy could have learnt such Dark secrets.

'I should like very much to kill you right now, Snivellus,' Black continued. 'But I can't deprive my father of the pleasure. He has very special plans for you.' He snarled. 'If you thought he hated you before, just imagine how much he hates you now that he knows that you were the one who told Voldemort about that wretched prophecy.'

'How...?' Severus began, but was cut off by another burst of pain. The wizard snarled at his tormentor in undisguised hatred.

'As if that weren't bad enough,' Black went on, his voice frighteningly cold, 'you sent Voldemort after James and Harry Potter, willing to trade their lives so long as your master gave you Lily for your own twisted pleasure.'

'How dare you?' Severus spat. This insolent little horror could never possibly understand the purity of the love he had felt for Lily, the agony he had suffered after her death, the lengths to which he would have gone to keep her safe. Black sullied her name by speaking it.

The boy hissed again, and Severus's whole left side felt as though it had been lit on fire. Black turned on his heel and left the classroom without giving his teacher a second look. Severus waited to be sure he was gone before rushing back to his dungeons, doing his best to ignore the pain. It would pass eventually, he knew, as soon as the boy was distracted.

It concerned him immensely, however, that the spoilt brat could have learnt the terrible secrets of the Dark Mark. This was hardly the first sign of Black's propensity towards the Dark Arts he had noticed, though it was by far the most troubling. So far as Severus knew, only the Dark Lord had the power to control the Dark Mark.

One thing, however, about the whole incident confused him more than anything else. If Sirius Black had truly been the one to betray the Potters to the Dark Lord, then why should he be so angry at Severus for doing the same thing? Severus thought it highly unlikely that Black would have hidden his true feelings on the matter from his son, all the more so since the boy appeared to be some sort of Dark prodigy.

On the other hand, if Black were truly innocent of betrayal, and had somehow learnt of Severus's own responsibility in the matter... The Potions master's already pale skin turned even whiter. Black would certainly kill him without a second thought.

Even an hour before, Severus would never have doubted his ability to vanquish his old nemesis in a duel, but if the boy had learnt how to manipulate the powers of the Dark Mark... Severus scowled. He didn't stand a chance.

The burning in his arm finally subsided, and Severus took out a quill and ink. He dashed off a quick note to McGonagall before packing his trunks with a flick of his wand and vacating the premises as expeditiously as possible, mildly surprised at the light feeling in his chest. The day he had dreamt of for so many years had finally come. His days at Hogwarts were over.

At last, he thought with relief. Now, how do I get to the Flamel house?

.....

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