My Worst Nightmare(s)

Severus was dreaming about the end of the war. Once again, he was inside the Shrieking Shack. Standing in front of his Dark Master, he stared at the cage that held Nagini because he knew what would happen next.

"NO!"

Severus startled awake and looked straight up to the clock on the mantle.

"Six a.m.... It's Christmas morning, and I've had no more hallucinations..."

"It's about time you woke up!"

Severus stared, horrified, at the visage of Lord Voldemort, who casually walked around his armchair to stand in front of him.

"We're taking a trip, Severus."

"Master?"

"Get up! I've wasted enough of my time on you tonight. We have unfinished business."

Severus wondered what business Voldemort might be talking about. Considering the dream he had just had, there was only one thing he could think to say.

"I didn't plan on surviving."

The Dark Lord grasped Severus' upper forearm and hauled him out of the chair violently.

"Your death will not come tonight. It is time for me to show you the future, Severusss. You will gaze upon the fruits of your labors and see how you reap what you've sown."

"Bloody hell, you too? Fine! Get on with it, then! You always did have a tendency of speaking simply for the sake of hearing yourself talk."

"Silence!"

Severus watched as The Dark Ghost pulled a bright-red Santa hat from his robes. Voldemort reached into the hat and pulled out a black Christmas ornament from it. Severus eyed the black glass ball warily, but before he could question the purpose of the item, Voldemort threw the ornament down onto the stone floor where it made a deafening crash. Suddenly, the room filled with black smoke.

When the smoke cleared, Severus found himself standing in a sterile, polished hallway. He looked around and determined that he was in St. Mungo's. He turned to his erstwhile companion and asked the only question that came to mind.

"And what does St. Mungo's have to do with my future?"

"Hold your tongue, and follow me."

His guide led him to one of the larger rooms at the end of the hall. When they entered the room, Voldemort pointed a long bony finger at the hospital bed. From the doorway Severus watched as Mrs. Bell fussed over young Timothy.

Scattered around the room were other members of the Bell family, all of whom looked drawn and forlorn. His attention then focused in on Timothy, once again.

"He looks catatonic, is this temporary?"

Silence reigned while all occupants in the room stared at the hospital bed, clearly waiting.

"Mom, how much longer? Did the Healers give any indication?" Katie Bell asked sadly.

"Katie, we can't rush these things."

"It's just not fair! He's here, but he's not..."

"I know, sweetheart. But, it's not time yet..."

Mrs. Bell's thoughts were interrupted by the violent spasms coming from Timothy.

Severus watched in horror as his young student had the worst seizure of his life. There were screams for healers coming from multiple members of the family, and bodies were rushing in and out of the room while the episode continued for what felt like hours. On and on the boy shook while family and staff were helpless, unable to stop his suffering.

Finally, the seizure ended, and so did Timothy's life.

"No... NO!" cried Severus. "Why didn't they help him? There's got to be a way!"

"They can't hear you, Severusss."

"Why didn't they help him? They just stood and watched as that fit ended his life!"

"It wasn't much of a life for him as of late, anyway. Honestly, the family is more than likely relieved. Good riddance, I say."

"How can you say that?"

Voldemort waved his hand dismissively. "There is now one less invalid taking up space in the world. Why would I be upset? That child has been suffering for years. The constant seizures finally broke his mind and created the catatonic state you previously noted. It was only a matter of time before they claimed his life also."

"This is my fault. I could have helped him..."

"Of course this is your fault! All you've done is wallow in your own pain! You have no concept of the world around you!"

"It doesn't have to be this way!"

"We're done here," Voldemort said with finality.

In no time, the Dark Lord was holding another black ornament which came from the red hat.

Severus watched as Voldemort gave him an evil grin and tossed the ornament down onto the tile floor with incredible force. The black smoke filled the room once again, and Severus managed to cough out, "Where are you taking me now?"

Silence was his response.

"I know this room," Severus said warily as he took in his surroundings.

"You do, do you?"

"Yes, this is Hermione Granger's flat."

"It was."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Look around. Do you think she's been here recently?"

Severus inspected the living area closer. All the furniture had been carefully covered with sheets, which were now covered in dust. The dust extended all around the flat, from the mantle to the sideboard. The duo continued to walk around the living area. Severus was examining everything for a sign that she could still be in residence and stopped in his tracks when he looked at the dining room table.

Hermione Granger's wand lay across a piece of parchment. Both items were clearly covered in dust and were further evidence that Miss Granger hadn't been present in quite some time. Severus leaned down to read the letter, but due to the dust and poor lighting he was unable to read the words.

"Allow me." Voldemort said while leaning down and letting out a puff of rotten, musty breath which cleared the dust from the parchment.

Dear Harry,

Hermione

"No, this can't happen. She wouldn't just disappear like this. She..."

"Why are you so upset, Severus? She's just a Mudblood. Don't tell me you have feelings for her?"

"She's my apprentice, and don't call her that!"

"I'll call her whatever I want. Now, where were we? Oh, yes, the Mudblood, why would she take off like this?"

"I... I know she was sad," Severus said quietly.

"Sad? That's it? She went and offed herself because she was sad?"

"No! She wouldn't do that! She just left the wizarding world, that's all."

Severus looked down at the neglected hardwood floor and waited for Voldemort's next scathing retort. He waited and waited, then looked up at his ghostly companion.

"Have you finished sulking?"

"I do not sulk. I was just considering what would have been so bad that Granger would have... left like this."

"And have you come up with any answers which are less than obvious?"

"I... I think this is my fault, too. She tried reaching out to me... and I... I turned my back on her."

"We're leaving... now."

"What? That's it?"

"You've seen what you were meant to see here; it's time to move on."

"How long are you going to..."

His sentence was cut off by the cloud of black smoke which was surrounding him.

Not this again.

Initially, Severus couldn't tell that the smoke had actually cleared since it was so dark where they were standing. As he took a step to try and see something, a wall sconce lit up and illuminated his surroundings. The tall stone walls and long hallway gave him the feeling that he was in Hogwarts, although he didn't recognize the hall itself. He reached over and touched the cold, stone wall and felt magic course through him. "I am in Hogwarts... how strange," he said curiously.

"Figured that out, have you?" Voldemort said from behind him.

"I've never seen this corridor before."

"No one ever comes down here, that's why."

Severus continued to catalogue his surroundings. No windows, no portraits, and no classrooms; the hallway was truly deserted aside from the two of them and the occasional wall sconce.

"Follow me."

The duo began walking...in which direction, Severus could not discern. A few minutes later, they finally encountered a large, gilded portrait frame.

"Who would want their portrait in such a deserted area of the castle?"

"Maybe the occupant didn't choose his location, although one would think he'd appreciate being sequestered away from annoying, gawking children."

"Who is it?"

Voldemort only held out his hand once again and pointed at the frame, indicating that Severus should go look for himself.

Standing in front of the portrait, he was appalled to find himself sitting alone in an oil version of his lab. He continued to watch as the painted Severus moved around a lab table to stand closer to the edge of the painting. Once there, he called out, "Hello? Is someone there?"

Severus spoke to the painting, "Yes, I'm here. Why are you alone down here?"

The Severus in the frame did not respond, only stared quizzically out into the hall.

"I said hello! Why are you by yourself?" Severus demanded, frustrated.

"Hello? I know someone is out there! Please talk to me; I've been alone so long!"

Severus cried out, frustrated, and then began to beat his fists against the wall on either side of the frame.

"As entertaining as this may be, I should let you know he won't be able to hear you."

Severus turned his head to look at Voldemort.

"Why am I down here?"

"In the painting, or with me?"

"In the painting! Why am I alone down here?"

"Because no one wanted to deal with your sorry self in the afterlife, so they put your frame up in a place where no one would ever encounter you. So appropriate..."

"What?"

"You are as alone in death as you were in life. This is your legacy."

"NO! No, this can't happen, I'll change. I swear I'll change!"

"Don't cry your horse-tears to me, Severus Snape. You don't answer to me, unfortunately."

"Take me back! Take me back, and I'll change all of this!"

The portrait Severus called out once more, "Please, say something!"

When Severus turned back to look at the portrait once more, he found that he could not see due to the thick black smoke that was surrounding him.

A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long to update. We had originally hoped to finish it before the holidays. Then we hoped to finish it before the New Year. Now here it is, the middle of January, and this "Christmas" story is finally updating. Luckily there are only 2 more chapters left after this one. Thank you so much for hanging in with us!

Much Love and squishes go out to karelia for the beta work!