ANOTHER fanfic from Cyrano, you ask? Why yes. I hesitated to start another WIP when I had not finished "Choices" (insert shameless plug here) but this plot bunny would not die. So, please R/R.
As always, I do not own Severus and Hermione, I just take them out and play with them form time to time. And then put them up wet.
The Palace of MemoryChapter One: Final Battle
The time for finesse has long since passed. Every breath was a monumental effort on that bloody field and the spells had turned into blunt instruments meant to destroy. There was no quarter taken or received, just the heat of curse and counter; live or die. Severus Snape would be having fun if he wasn't so goddamned drained. It seemed like hours since the battle had begun. He had struck early, declaring his allegiance to the Dumbledore's cause by hitting Goyle from behind. He had killed three Deatheaters before they had even realized what was happening. And then he was facing Lucius Malfoy himself.
"So, thrown in your lot with the Mudbloods, have you? I always knew you weren't good enough to be one of us Severus."
Snape had barely managed to dodge the curse that Malfoy threw at him, and then there was no time to do anything but fight for his life. Malfoy had always been considered a deadly duelist, far better then the Master he served. But Snape had a few tricks he was confident the older man had never seen.
"You know Malfoy, I truly think you enjoy being on your knees. It suits your pretty face."
"Better pretty than a gallows's head."
It was an old joke between them, but it wasn't remotely funny anymore.
"Crucio!" Lucius shouted.
Snape batted the curse away without a thought, throwing an "Inflamentia Regalto" at his opponent.
He had lost sight of the others. Where was Dumbledore? He had disappeared four days ago and no one had seen him since. The Potter boy was here somewhere; Snape could hear his voice dueling with Voldemort's. For a moment, just a moment, Snape turned his head from the man in front of him to catch a glance at the larger battle. Seizing the chance Lucius called forth a Dementor.
"Kill him!" He ordered it.
Snape stood at the ready as the Dementor wended closer. He knew what to do; he knew the counterspell. He only need let it get close enough...
The Dementor glided closer, its ghostly grey garment trailing over the dead and dieing bodies in its path. Severus felt himself being pulled towards it. A deep sadness welled up in him. He set it aside, knowing it was only the Dementor's magic.
"Expecto Patronum." He said. A silvery light glowed briefly at the tip of his wand but then fizzled and died. He heard Malfoy laughing as the Dementor reached for him. Despair crashed through him. He had failed. He was going to die here, at the hands of Lucius Malfoy. He would not live to see if Potter could defeat the Dark Lord. He would never see if his sacrifice had been worthwhile...
Think. He ordered himself. Find a memory. Focus. Say the spell.
The Dementor was opening its great gaping mouth, drawing him closer. Severus felt the edges of his soul fraying under its touch.
THINK! He ordered himself but nothing came. No memory, no spell, nothing could overpower the cold of the Dementor's hands and the darkness of its despair. It was crushing him, sucking him in.
Far off he could hear a voice like a bell in his head shouting his name.
"Severus!"
He felt darkness overtaking him and he tried one last desperate spell.
"Legilimens Memoriam!"
