"Is he going to be all right?" Madam Pomfrey whispered concernedly to Albus Dumbledore. The nurse and headmaster stood in the hospital wing of Hogwarts watching a boy of about eighteen as he slept. The boy had a hooked nose and strands of long, greasy hair fell across his face.

Dumbledore was silent for a moment before he answered. "Yes Poppy, I think that this might be just what he needs. A chance to change his life path, to have another chance, one without the terror of serving Voldemort. I have examined him and there is a possibility that he will not remember what has happened. I must ask that you not remind him of it. For his own safety and peace of mind I have replaced his damaged memories with new ones.

"So what is the life you created for him?" Poppy asked.

I made him think that he recently lost his parents, and thus had to live with his closest relative, also named Severus Snape. I was very careful to make him think he was home schooled, so that there would be no awkward questions. We shall say that Severus has disappeared, leaving his young nephew in our care. He can stay at Hogwarts for this year and then begin a new life of his choosing."

Madam Pomfrey gasped, "oh Albus! I knew that he is physically a boy again, but mentally? What will the Order do without him? And who will teach Potions?"

Dumbledore looked grave. "I will figure that out soon enough, Poppy. Right now let the poor boy rest and alert me the moment he wakes up."

Madam Pomfrey nodded, and she drew the curtains around the boy's bed as Dumbledore left, closing the door behind him.

Severus woke up the next day to see a man with a long white beard and a pair of half-moon glasses examining him carefully. He tried to place his surroundings and couldn't, so he switched his attentions to the man, who looked vaguely familiar.

"Hello Severus," the man said carefully. "Do you remember me?"

Severus shook his head. "no sir," he replied.

"What do you remember?" he asked.

"I remember my uncle shouting for me to get away, and then an explosion. After that everything went black."

"Ah," Dumbledore said.

"Sir, where is my uncle? And where am I?"

Dumbledore looked solemn, "Your uncle is dead, Severus. You are now at Hogwarts where he worked."

"Hogwarts," Severus murmured. "So he left me to live here, then?"

"Yes, your uncle trusted me to take car of you," he replied. "I am the Headmaster here, Albus Dumbledore."

At the mention of the name something flickered in the back of Severus' mind, but it was gone almost as soon as it had come.

"So Professor Dumbledore, what am I to do now?"

"I had thought that you could continue your education here at Hogwarts. I understand that you are a very gifted wizard, one that would benefit greatly from a proper magical education and training."

"I did just fine on my own." Severus scowled resentfully.

"I was not implying anything less," Dumbledore said smoothly. "It's just that if you graduate from Hogwarts, get a degree and your NEWTs you will have many more career opportunities. I understand from your uncle that have inherited his gift at Potions?" Severus remained silent and he continued, "I will arrange to have you complete some independent research in the subject and then maybe I can see about getting you an apprenticeship."

At the word 'apprenticeship' Severus' eyes glowed and Dumbledore suppressed a chuckle. This truly was the same Severus.

"Well I will let you rest and perhaps later you can explore the castle," Dumbledore said as he turned to leave. Right before he reached the door, the question Severus had been holding in for so long came bursting out.

"But Professor, why do this to me, why help me like this?"

"As I mentioned before, your uncle left you in my care. However, I must also say that you are a particularly promising individual Severus, and I am not simply referring to your academic capabilities."

Then Dumbledore closed the door and left Severus alone to ponder what exactly he meant.