Chapter 9 - Second Chances come too late

(A/N: Sorry about this if like 5 versions of this chapter pops up but wattpad tells me its there then the next instance its not, so i did make a few changes so please reread. The lyrics to the song remind me of severus's feelings)

Andromeda Dumbledore's P.O.V.

    Harry, Ron and Hermione had come back to find one of the last horocruxes. The tiara of Ravenclaw. Something only Luna had known, she had a knowledge about things that no one else knew much about. Harry didn't know what it was and Andromeda had only heard rumors, only things her grandfather told her or things she read in a book. She leaned back against the wall as everyone crowded around Harry, Hermione and Ron. They all wanted to know how it went and if they had finished. She frowned knowing if they had finished Voldemort would be dead and she might have the chance to speak to Severus again. She looked at Neville who smiled at her before he went back to his conversation with Harry. That's when over a loud speaker she heard Severus call all the students to the great hall. She wasn't surprised he knew that Harry was back. For all she knew there were students in her group that were spying on them, which in actuality wouldn't surprise her very much. She made her way to the great hall with all of her friends. Harry putting on some extra robes borrowed from a friend.

    They made it to the great hall and stood in rows almost military like. Andromeda stood next to Harry who stood on the end of a row near the back. She caught the eye of Minerva and gave her a nod. Minerva saw who was standing next to her, smiled ever so slightly so no one would notice. Severus stood at the front, Andromeda saw conflict on his face, but she knew what he had to do. He didn't even seem to notice her as he looked over the crowd. She suddenly felt so lost, even though she was among friends. She wanted to hate him even more, but something wouldn't let her. He had started to speak, but she hadn't heard what he said. His back was turned when Harry stepped out of the crowd.

    "tell them what you did" Harry spoke loudly, so everyone could hear him in the quiet hall. Severus turned slowly, surprised on his face. "Tell them how you killed Professor Dumbledore"

    "I will not explain myself to you, or to anyone else in this room" Severus spoke softly as he moved towards Harry.

    "What about me?" Andromeda stepped out next to Harry and she watched him stop. He almost seemed terrified as he stopped dead in his tracks and frowned at her. She watched his eyes as they met hers. His eyes definitely showed surprise. Surprise she had gotten enough courage to speak against him Everyone was watching them, she could feel their eyes and yet she didn't seem to care at the moment. "You sit in his chair, occupy his office, have his job and you don't care about how it makes other people feel" Her eyes were watering there was no stopping it at this point. "You don't care that you've hurt dozens of people. That you've killed the only family some people have. He was my only family" She started yelling, the anger was back. "How... I can't believe you would do that, I never thought you were capable, but i was wrong,"

    "Andie" Harry grabbed her arm to pull her back, but she refused to move as she watched his face. It had gone back to emotionless.

    "I... thought..." She felt the letter in her pocket as she looked back up at him. "You lied to me, again" Without a second thought she pulled out her wand and flung a spell at him. He waved his wand to deflect it. He moved closer to her, but Mcgonagall and Harry both stepped in front of her. Minerva started to throw spells at him which he deflected before he apperated through the window. She turned to Harry who hugged her tightly. "I have to find him, i have to end this."

    "I know, go find him" Harry smiled softly as he let her go.

    She ran out of the castle as fast as she could. Behind her, Minerva and the the teachers was putting up a spell to keep the death eaters from getting in. Giant statues were falling and landing on their feet in front of her. A shield was being put up around the school as she ran toward the shrieking shack. She remembered him once telling her that if anything were to happen to met him there and he would do everything in his power to get her out. not that she believed that now. She had a feeling tonight was going to be the end and one of them would die. She was hoping it would not be her, but she wasn't going to count on that. She doubted he would take pity on her or show her mercy. She moved slowly up the stairs with her wand out, a little light on the end showing a few feet in front of her. She entered a small room and looked around. She didn't know where he was and there was so many different places he could hide.

    "Severus?" She called into the room softly. She hadn't called him that in a long time and strangely enough she missed it. She looked around her but not a sound came from the room. It was only a few moments later when she felt a hand over her mouth and she was pulled back into the shadows against the solid mass of a man. She didn't have time to make a noise.

    "Quiet" His voice hissed in her ear. She shivered as his warm breath hit her ear. She wanted to pull away but even if she had the will to, she wouldn't get away from him. She knew he was much stronger then her. So she rested against his body nodding to let him know she would keep quiet, but only for a little bit. He removed his hand from her mouth but rested it around her stomach where the other one rested. "I want to say something and i need you to listen even if you don't want to believe me"

    "Very well" She replied as she pulled away from him, his hands sliding off of her body. She turned to look at him, pulling her wand up. She held her it up at him. "I will listen, but if i feel threatened i will use this, i have become stronger."

    "I don't doubt that" he spoke again, his tone quiet and almost soft. "Listen Andromeda, as hard as this is to believe but your grandfather ...  Albus, he asked me to do this. After Lily died... i thought I would never feel love again, so i agreed to help him." He leaned against a wall, running a hand through his hair before continuing. "He knew the time would come when Voldemort would get the best of him and he didn't want Draco to do it, so he asked me. I didn't want to do it, but i don't think i ever had a choice, i respected him too much to say no. Then i met you... and it all went down hill. I fell in love with you i think it was last year after you told me to back off and leave you alone. I had never seen such courage from you, you were always laid back, i admit I wanted to see you angry and you got angry. But i wasn't mad, i loved you." She watched him take a deep breath as he continued. "That night we slept together, i admit i probably would not have slept with you except for the help of the alcohol, but i will tell you now, i love you, i always have and probably always will, but i am not the man you deserve"

    "No, you're not" Andromeda spoke softly. She wasn't sure if she believed him, but she would listen all the same, she had to. He wanted to tell her what happened no matter what she believed and she felt like she should believe him. "No, you are not, I know I deserve someone better, some one who may treat me like a princess, someone like Harry or even Neville, but i don't love either of them, not like i love you, but i don't know if i would ever have had the courage to tell you this if i thought i wasn't going to die."

    "You are not going to die" He touched her face, she rested her check against his palm. His hand was cold against her skin and she shivered. "I will not let anything happen to you"

    "Severus" Andromeda said his name in a whisper looking up at him. He leaned down to kiss her, when she watched him suddenly pull away from him. She felt his body stiffen under her hands, she could hear footsteps and knew why he pulled away. 

    "Hide" He pulled her towards some boxes that were pilled up in the corner. "someone's coming. hide, please" She went behind the boxes as he pulled away from her and moved across the room in a few strides.

Severus Snape's P.O.V.

    That had been close, he knew who was coming and he didn't want Andromeda get caught in the middle of it. His heart beat fast in his chest, he was scared, but not for himself. She was in the room and if Voldemort found her, he would kill her, she was no use to him. Severus swallowed sharply before he turned to face the door that Voldemort was about to come in. He bowed his head low before greeting him. Voldemort responded telling him they needed to talk about Albus's wand and why it wasn't working properly. Severus nodded before trying to explain to him that it seemed to be working fine and he was casting wonderful magic with it. Voldemort told him that he was creating normal magic, nothing extraordinary. It was then the snake came up to Voldemort and spoke to him. Voldemort looked at Severus.

    "it appears we have an eavesdropper" Voldemort spoke softly before Nagi slithered over to where Severus knew Andromeda hiding. She moved out from behind the boxes and he watched her jump behind him. She was terrified of snakes, he knew that, one time in her first year she was attacked by a snake in the forest and he had to save her. She had been too terrified to even remember to use a spell, never mind remembering what spell to use. "Well, look at who we have here. Andromeda Dumbledore. The last of the Dumbledore bloodline"

    "Voldemort" Andromeda spoke as she looked at him from around Severus shoulders. Severus stood still not moving, trying not to give anything away. He turned his head enough to see her glaring at Voldemort. "Leave me alone"

    "I have ever opportunity to end the Dumbledore line once and for all, why wouldn't i take it" Voldemort said. Severus knew he was right, and he had to think fast. He wouldn't be responsible for her death, not like he had been for Albus's. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if anymore people died because of him.

    "Maybe, my lord" Severus spoke getting Voldemort's attention off of Andromeda. "You can give her a choice, she joins us or she dies"

    "That is a good point, Severus" Voldemort turned to look at her. Severus could have slapped himself for even suggesting it. "Go ahead girl, make your choice, and if she choose wrong, then you can kill her"

    "What?" Andromeda said surprised. Severus was just as surprised. He was trying to protect her, not get her killed, especially by him. "I will not"

    "Don't try my patience girl" Voldemort spoke, then turned to Severus.

    "My lord, please" Severus spoke. "I can not kill her."

    "Why what is she to you?"

    "No one, my lord" Severus swallowed as he lied through his teeth. He only hoped that Andromeda would know he was.

    "Then i'll kill her" Voldemort raised his want.

    "Severus" Andromeda hissed from next to him as she had finally seen it to face Voldemort face to face after Nagi has moved into a far corner. He couldn't believe what he was about to do. As Voldemort threw the spell at her, he slipped in front of her, the spell hitting him instead. Voldemort seemed to be please with the outcome anyway as he laughed and turned to leave, saying something about it not mattering she would be dead soon anyway, "Severus" She cried out as she caught him against her body. She leaned him down to floor as Harry, Ron and Hermione came rushing in.

    "Professor?" Harry kneeled next to them, ignoring the fact that Severus's head was in Andromeda's lap. Severus didn't move for what to him seemed like a very long time. His body was in a lot of pain and he groaned softly.

    "Andromeda" He spoke softly looking for her. She moved her head to his view, so he  could see her sparkling blue eyes one last time, even tough they shone with tears instead of happiness. He gave her an attempt at a smile.

    "I am here" He saw her face and he saw her smile softly. He reached up to touch her face. Tears were running down her face. "Please Severus, don't leave me"

    "I won't" He promised, knowing it was a promise he wouldn't be able to keep. "Harry"

    "Here" He came forward. Severus spoke softly to him before allowing him to take a tear that dripped down his face. The tear he shed for loosing Andromeda, more then anything else.

    "Andromeda, no matter what happens remember always, that I love you" Severus smiled up at her. She nodded at him, before he closed his eyes.

    "Severus" he could hear her yelling his name, but he could not open his eyes. "Please Severus, come back"

    "Andie, he can't hear you, let's go" Harry took her hand and began to pull her away. He could hear her and feel her resist, but he knew harry was stronger then Andromeda. Harry would take care of her, as just her friend. "Andie, why don't you come with me, Hermione, Ron you guys go find the snake."

    "Right" Hermione spoke. Severus could hear it all. Hermione sounded shocked at what happened between Severus and Andromeda. He heard them leave, and go their separate ways. He felt himself slip into the darkness and he let it come. He had told her that he loved her and that was all he wanted. he wanted her to know before he died and now she did. He felt his last breath leave his body, and he felt at peace.