Chasing the Domino
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended
Chapter Summary: A small tremor, a tiny ripple. Massive consequences.
Chapter 1: Ripples
"I have thought long and hard, Severus...do you know why I have called you back from the battle?"
A little voice told her to get away, before Harry did something reckless, but she was glued to the terrible tableau in front of them. From their hiding place Hermione could see Snape in profile, his face turned up towards Nagini. They were very close – too close – and she could see each familiar detail that a year's absence had made even harsher than she recalled. Those cold black eyes somehow looked more desparate, and those thin lips now formed an absolutely straight and bloodless line. It was not a good sign.
"No, my lord," said Snape. " But I beg you let me return to the battle – let me find Potter and bring him."
"You are beginning to sound like Lucius, Severus. As I have told you, the boy does not need finding. He will come to me before the end. No...I require another service of you."
"M – my lord?"
Hermione almost gasped. In all the years, she had never heard Snape's voice tremble. The feeling of unease grew more instistant. This was not a good place to be at all. She nudged Harry again to get them moving, but he shook her off. She glanced across at Ron and widened her eyes meaningfully. He gave Harry a side-long look and shook his head. 'Let him,' he mouthed, over Harry's shoulder.
"You have been very valuable to me – very valuable."
"My lord knows that I seek only to serve him –" Snape sounded so flat, and his face, from what Hermione could see, had gone deathly white. It was odd to see Snape afraid and, even though she reviled him, for a shortlived moment Hermione almost felt something on his behalf.
"Let me go back and bring you the boy –"
"I have told you no!" hissed Voldemort.
The terrible sound seemed to continue even when he had shut his mouth and with a shudder Hermione realised that Nagini's bubble was moving, hovering in the air between Voldemort and Snape.
With a jolt, she realised what would happen next.
"My concern at the moment is what should happen when I finally meet the boy. Why did both the wands I used fail against Harry Potter? My wand of yew did everything which I asked of it, except to kill Harry Potter. Twice it failed. Olivander told me under torture of the twin cores and for me to take another's wand. But Lucius's wand shattered upon meeting Potter's."
"My lord, " said Snape, whose voice was beginning to fail him, "I have no explanation for this. But, please, let me be of service –"
But Hermione could see that the cause was lost. Voldemort was no longer listening and Snape, she thought, would soon be dead.
"I sought a third wand, Severus. The Elder wand, the Wand of Destiny, the Deathstick. I took it from its previous master. I took it from the grave of Albus Dumbledore."
Snape finally looked away from the Snake and at his master. His his eyes were blank and dull, though she thought something on his face was twitching. Occlumency won't save you , she thought.
"All this long night, when I am on the brink of victory, I have sat here, wondering, wondering why the Elder Wand refused to be what it ought to be, refuses to perform as legend says it must perform for its rightful owner...and I think I have the answer."
Snape did not speak.
Hermione did not breathe.
"Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all, Severus. I wonder how long you have known and not told me?"
"Forgive me, m-my lord. I would wish – but I cannot – the Vow- "
"Yes, I understand how the Unbreakable Vow functions, Severus. I shall kill Draco Malfoy myself. "
Snape looked fractionally relieved, but it was not to be long-lived. The great bubble descended upon him and he stumbled backwards as the snake got closer and closer.
"My lord - Please!"
Voldemort waved a hand lazily and the great bubble descended upon Snape, swallowing him.
"No doubt you will be compelled to stop me, Severus. I will relieve you of such a need."
The snake struck him on the collar with a mighty hiss, her teeth sunk deep and tore away robe and skin alike. Snape screamed and would have fallen if the bubble had not held him prisoner as the Snake arched back to deliver more blows.
"I do not take lightly to my servants making vows to another master." said Voldemort when at last the bubble spat Snape out onto the floor.
"No, my lord, please, forgive me – " begged Snape in a wet, gargling voice. He had lost all colour and was bleeding at an alarming rate. His wand lay forgotten at his side – all the good it could do against the Dark Lord – and Voldemort summoned it with a lazy flick.
"Perhaps, Severus, I will come back for you after my victory."
Then Voldemort and the snake were gone. Snape moaned, stirred as if compelled after his master, and finally succumbed to unconsciousness as the dark stain of his blood spread across the rotten wooden planks like a glistening, gory rose .
"Let's go," said Harry, shakily. "We can't let him get Draco - if he's Master of the Elder wand..."
"Right." Ron looked almost as pale as Snape
Hermione nodded but did not follow the two boys immediately. Instead, she pulled a bottle of dittany from her bag and sent it through the gap. It floated to Snape, uncorked, and poured over his wounds. The hissing noise it made was not unlike the snake.
"Hermione!" called Harry.
"Coming!" she said. Why had she done that? she thought. Why didn't she just let the traitor die?
_...o..._
Hermione ran blind into the Forest. She couldn't risk a light, or care in where she was going. The dark was filled with noises – screams, sobs and obscene shrieks of joy – and it only mattered that she was running away from it.
Just behind her were Neville and Luna, and ahead of her she could just make out Ginny's red hair in the meagre moonlight. The four of them were all that was left, she was sure, and they had to get away. Voldemort would kill them and besides, Neville had the sword and Ginny had taken Harry's cloak, though they didn't know what either truly was. She had to get the Hallow and the sword to safety, it was the only way , their last hope -
Somewhere not far behind them was a Death Eater – she had no idea which one - and every now and then he cast a jet of green light through them that lit their path and no doubt betrayed their silhouettes.
"Her – my – knee!" panted Neville, "We have to split!"
She knew he was right, though she hated the thought. Another jet of green soared past, so close that it ruffled her hair.
"Al right!" she shouted back, "NOW!"
Ginny peeled off to the left between two thickets, and with a bound she followed. Ginny was fast on foot – much faster than Hermione - and it was hard to keep up. But as they ran the forest grew darker and quieter, until the sound of Neville , Luna and the death eater grew faded away behind them. They continued for what seemed like hours, until the forest became deathly silent, the trees too dense for even moonlight to pass through, and their running turned limp and powerless.
Hermione's chest ached and she was glad when Ginny finally collapsed against a gnarled treetrunk. Hermione fell beside her, gasping and aching. Something cool brushed her leg – the cloak. It was a relief that it was safe, at least.
It was too dark to see Ginny's face, and Hermione was glad. At some point she had stopped crying herself and her cheeks felt tight in the cold air.
They'd lost and He'd won. And now there was hardly any hope at all...
"Ginny, " she whispered, when her heart had stopped pounding quite so hard, "you – you and Harry's cloak have to get out of the country."
"What?" Ginny sounded too tired to even be incredulous.
"Just listen, "said Hermione. With a sudden clarity, she could see what had to be done, could see it all like a map. It was mad, it was insane, but it just might work. And it had to be done quickly – every minute spent there, like sitting ducks, would give Him more time to find them.
"He's won. We're all going to be killed if he finds us, but there might be a way to bring him down. I can't tell you what I mean – not now. But we'll need Harry's cloak for it, and - and the stone. I don't know where the stone is anymore – Harry had it last –but if could find it – or even if we just had the cloak – maybe we could do something."
"Stone? Cloak?" Ginny sounded a bit more awake now, and properly confused. " Hermione – what's going on? What did you and Harry and Ron get up to?"
"I can't tell you." The answer came out quickly, automatically. After all, the fewer that knew about it, the better.
There was a silence. Could she tell Ginny? She wished she could...
"I can't," she repeated, " No one can know about it. But it's the only hope we have. "
There was a second silence. Hermione could feel Ginny's doubt, her fear. For a moment she thought Ginny would call her mad – and she wouldn't blame her - but a cold hand slipped into her own and give a surprisingly strong squeeze.
"Alright. What do you want me to do?"
"Get out of the country for a bit. Do it soon and use muggle transport. Head for France, but stay well away from Beauxbatons. Go to Lyon, or maybe Bordeaux. I – I'll find you when it's time. I don't know how, but I promise I will one day – and hopefully soon. You have to find Neville and tell him the same – and make sure he keeps the sword hidden. And Luna – make sure you tell Luna about the stone and the cloak – and ask her about the Deathly Hallows– she might know what to do...and..."
Hermione paused from her tirade and racked her brain for anything else.
"...and...stay safe. Leave the rest to me," she said, with a conviction she didn't feel.
_...o..._
Author's Note: Thank you for reading the prologue to what will be a novel-length HG/SS. Stay tuned for a glimpse into Voldemort's Britain, Snape's future and more on Hermione's secret.
Please drop a review - I am particularly keen for grammar picks.
- Zhangers