Act ll: Enter Severus Snape

Disclaimer: All the Harry Potter world belongs to JKR. I am making no money from this.

A/N Many thanks to my wonderful beta, the one and only, Southern_Witch_69.

Chapter 3

Act ll: Enter Severus Snape

Severus watched in horror as his face appeared on the movie screen. Damnit! This cannot be happening! It was bad enough to watch Hermione's life, but I don't know if I can sit though this. I don't want her to see this!

The first thing Severus saw was himself working in his lab at home. Scattered bottles were lying about with Prince Potions written on the label. Bloody hell! She will definitely know it's me now! He thoroughly checked each potion several times and bottled the finished product with pride. He was proud of the business he had started for himself, as it had done very well indeed. Okay, so far this is not too bad. Even though I could have done without Hermione knowing, I don't believe she is one to spread gossip. I can deal with this...

Hermione smirked slightly. I knew he was I. M. A. Prince! She chanced a glance at her former professor, some of her earlier embarrassment waning. He was scowling at the screen. Right. Better not to mention that just yet, I think.

Severus watched the screen as he worked on his potions. It seemed he was continuously mumbling to himself. He watched as trays of food were brought to him and ignored.

After what seemed like hours, but was really only minutes, the screen Severus went to his study and poured a firewhisky while he reached for a Potions text. He started as a sandwich appeared next to him, causing him to shrug before absently eating it as he read.

Not bad, so far. That is how I live. I prefer to be alone at any rate. I don't have time for nonsense conversations and can tolerate only the company of the Malfoys. Except... I have rather enjoyed this evening with Hermione. Our conversation has been anything but dull.

He and Hermione watched the screen change. He was at a gathering at Malfoy Manor, standing outside a bedroom door with a pacing Draco and a calm Lucius. "Maybe she should have gone to St. Mungo's, Father. Gabrielle is the fragile sort."

"Nonsense, Draco. All Malfoy heirs have been born in this home and shall continue to do so. Your wife will be just fine." Noticing his son biting his nails, he said, "Your mother is the fragile sort as well, but she did just fine. What say you, Severus?"

"I agree. All will be well, Draco," Severus said as he clamped a hand on Draco's shoulder.

Suddenly, the three men heard a wail from behind the door and just when it seemed that Draco could stand the suspense no longer and went to rush in, Fleur Weasley, his sister-in-law, came out holding an absolutely beautiful baby boy.

As Severus watched, he saw the way his screen counterpart backed away from the family, staring wistfully at the scene. That will never be me. I will never have those things, and I don't really want them. However, he looked at Hermione just then and knew he was only fooling himself. Every man eventually wanted those things, even him.

Suddenly, Severus noticed Hermione's hand tightening on his. He hadn't even realized they were still holding hands. He quickly looked up at the screen and winced. He was entering a brothel in Muggle London.

He watched, helpless, as the Severus on the screen paid and went upstairs with a woman who had long, red hair and bright green eyes. Damn, she looks like Lily Evans. He refused to think of her as Lily Potter. Well, I refuse to allow this to embarrass me. I am a man. I have needs. He cringed as the Severus on screen didn't even fully disrobe, only pulling down his pants and taking his penis out. Not bothering to prepare her, he thrust roughly into the paid woman. Good Lord! What must Hermione be thinking right now? I do have some finesse! I could do so much better, but why bother with a woman who has countless lovers every day?

Hermione was silently smirking to herself. She did not have the full view of his body that he'd had of hers, but she was definitely enjoying the nice view of his well-rounded arse and the tops of his thighs. I have no idea who that woman is, but she reminds me of Harry's mum. I wonder if...

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a deep moan. She watched the scene before her as Severus threw his head back, eyes closed, during his orgasm and thought that he was absolutely beautiful. Beautiful? Snape? But as she looked at him sitting beside her, she knew he was very appealing to her.

What is she thinking? Does she think that is the only way I could have a lover? Is she repulsed by me now? He chanced a look at her and saw that she had not taken her eyes off the screen. He sighed. She will never want to see me again after this. Why did it have to show me with a bloody woman?

When the scene changed again, Severus was back at Malfoy Manor. It looked to be Christmas dinner. It was only himself, Narcissa, Lucius, Draco, Gabrielle, and the newest addition, Serpens. He rolled his eyes and hoped the boy made it into Slytherin. It would be hard having a name that meant serpent otherwise. What is it with the Malfoys and their need for constellation names?

The screen Severus seemed to detach himself from the family. He held discourse, but he only spoke when someone directly asked him something. He kept watching the two couples with nothing short of envy. How did love come so easily to some and not at all to others? He sighed. Both the screen and real Severus were becoming depressed. He wanted to leave this theater and go home.

Instead, he continued to watch. It seemed as if several years had passed. He was in his lab once more, but something seemed amiss. Good Lord! I would never attempt to brew anything whilst intoxicated! What is wrong here? The screen version was haphazardly throwing things into cauldrons as he stopped every so often to drink from a flask in his pocket. It looks as if I have channeled Moody!

Hermione started to feel uneasy. She could see that the screen Severus was doing what the screen Hermione had done...distancing herself from her friends. In a way, this was more embarrassing to watch than the intimate scenes. I know what it's like to be alone and feel unloved. This brilliant, uniquely wonderful man should not have to worry about this happening to him.

Severus noticed several unopened invitations to various things: Ministry functions, Malfoy gatherings and such. He wondered why the Severus on the screen decided not to go, at least to the Malfoy gatherings, and then, he realized that he knew why. It is easier to be alone than to be surrounded by people and still be alone. He hated the fact that Hermione was watching his misery. Oh, well, what should it matter? I saw hers as well. If things don't change, she will end as a bitter old maid. Looking up at the screen, he wondered, How will I end?

As they watched, it seemed that several months passed. Screen Severus was sitting in his study staring into the fire. There were several empty firewhisky bottles on the floor around his chair and plates of food left untouched and moldy. It seemed the house-elves were terrified of him now. They wouldn't go near him unless he called, which it seemed he was too drunk to do.

Suddenly, a very irate Lucius Malfoy and his son came storming into Severus' home without knocking. "This has gone on long enough, Severus. What, the Dark Lord didn't finish you off so you are going to do that yourself?"

"Go away, and leave me in peace, Lucius."

"Professor, please stop this! We miss you, Mother especially. Have a shower, and come back to the Manor with us." Draco was practically pleading.

"I am no longer your, or anyone's, professor, and I will do no such thing! Go back to your loving wives and adoring son, and leave me to my misery!"

"For God's sake, man! Look at yourself! When is the last time you have eaten? Bathed? Made potions? I will not let you kill yourself. You are my oldest and dearest friend. Please, come to the Manor with me."

"How touching. You almost convinced me, but no, I still have my wits. Even in my current drunken state, I can still say no, but I thank you. Now, leave me be. I do not want you or yours here, Lucius."

"Fine! You want to kill yourself? Have at it then, mate! However, I will not stand by and watch you! Draco, let's go."

"Father!" Draco was desperate. "We can't leave him this way! We have to help him; we are all he has."

And that was the point. Severus had nobody. The only conversations he seemed to have were with the portraits hanging about his home. He had removed the one of Albus because it was always giving him lectures and disapproving looks. It hurt him to know he had let Albus down so completely.

The next scene gave Severus chills. He watched in horror as his screen counterpart, in his highly intoxicated state, walked into the potions lab.

He heard Hermione murmur, "No, Severus, don't do it! Please go back!"

He watched himself randomly throwing things into a cauldron. Suddenly, it exploded in such a fashion that would have made Neville Longbottom's past explosions pale in comparison. They both watched as the screen Severus was thrown back by the blast, knocking his head on the corner of a table and hitting the floor with a thud.

Surely a house-elf will come and see what the noise was, Hermione thought frantically. But, soon, it was all too apparent that nobody was coming.

He stayed on that floor for three days and bled to death before Draco could sneak out of the Manor to check on him. His father had wanted to wait a little longer, but Draco had a bad feeling that something was not right.

It rained the day of his funeral. Only the distraught Malfoys were present. The screen then faded to black.

Severus sat very still until he heard the sniffling coming from Hermione. That is it! I am leaving this place...with or without her!

As he stood, he felt her tugging him back to his seat. "Hermione, we have both had enough. I say we leave this theater! I want to find out the identity of the man that took our tickets. This has the feel of some kind of Dark magic."

"Not quite yet, Severus. Look," she shakily told him, pointing to the screen. "It seems there is still more to see."

Severus looked up and saw the words What You Could Have Together in big letters.

They both had the same thought. How much worse can this get?

Christy's Notes: Well, let's hope that together they are better than alone!

Southern's Notes: I feel so sorry for him. That's a sad way to die. I hope the next section will be much better for our pair.