The Long Road
My apologies for the terrible delay - I hope you will understand when you read.
~ SS19
Albus Dumbledore looked up at the dilapidated mansion named after the Riddle family, perched atop the hill, contrasting against the blue skies that seemed relentless since Voldemort's defeat. Black spires and dirty grounds, trees without any leaves, dusted with a fine layer of neglect. He pushed the gate aside with his hand, hearing it creak against its will, and started up the past.
Harry was lingering behind with Remus and Arthur Weasley, both of whom had come to support the Headmaster. Harry had also insisted on attending, and thus Ron and Hermione were present too. Poppy Pomfrey and Minerva McGonagall brought up the rear. Harry glanced at the faces that surrounded him - no one knew what they might find, here, in a mansion of nightmares and only the most terrible things.
"Albus. You do not know what might be lurking. Perhaps…a more cautious speed?" Arthur tried.
Albus seemed not to hear him, looking at the front door, eyes narrowed. Arthur looked instead to Remus, who simply shrugged, and pulled his wand from his pocket. Harry and Ron did the same, Ron moving instinctively closer to Hermione, one hand just above her elbow. Harry smiled slightly. His two best friends were starting to realise the depth of their feelings toward each other. His expression sobered when he realised the situation once more.
Minerva crossed to Dumbledore and stood next to him, "How do we get in?" She had been adamant that she was coming - and Harry had overheard Remus discussing with Arthur the benefit of this.
"She'll help to keep Albus in control."
"Don't forget she loved Severus like a son - she always did - she, too, is hurting."
"Yes. But she also knows how to keep Albus in line - and we will need that, I think."
Albus surveyed the door. "Like this." He raised his wand, "Confringo." The Blasting Curse ripped a hole in the wall and door, allowing Dumbledore entrance. He raised his wand - just as a Dementor swept toward him. Dumbledore did not even flinch - his Patronus simply shot from the end of the wand, the Phoenix chasing the Dementor away. Dumbledore stepped into the mansion, gesturing for his companions to follow him. "Split up - find him - but be watchful. Minerva, Poppy, come with me." The hallway was shadowy and cold, a staircase leading to the upper floor. Harry looked at Remus, who nodded at Dumbledore, "We'll do upstairs."
Albus nodded once, before turning his head toward the corridor leading off into darkness. "He's here. He is definitely here. I can feel him." Minerva touched a hand to his arm, "Where?"
"I cannot…" Albus shook his head, "I cannot place him. It's almost like a shadow - but he's here." He glanced at Minerva, blue eyes filled with something she could not stand to witness, "It's…almost an imprint…I cannot tell if he is alive…or dead."
"Then we must cling to believing in the former, Albus. Riddle said he was still alive. Why would he lie?"
Albus did not answer that.
"Ron! You stood on my foot!"
"Sorry, Hermione - it's dark, here!"
Hermione almost rolled her eyes at Ron, but refrained. Now was not, after all, the time for jokes or laughter. Riddle Mansion seemed to steal any lightness from the atmosphere. She felt nervous just being here - and she could tell that her companions were feeling similar emotions. Behind her, Arthur jumped when his foot came into contact with a loose floorboard and startled him. Remus glanced behind them, "Be careful. We have no idea what sort of traps he set before he left."
Harry put one arm on Hermione's to steady her, and they made their way further along the corridor. Remus pushed open the first door, stepping inside, Arthur a step behind. "It's clear. Let's have a closer look." Arthur gestured to his son and friends, and they crossed into the room. It was a bedroom, with a four poster bed and dresser, both carved from the same wood. Harry and Hermione looked at the sheet on the bed - it was stained in several places with a dark red liquid that sent shivers down both their spines.
Remus moved nearer to the wardrobe, wand raised —
And the door slammed closed behind them.
Albus, Minerva and Poppy were still in the main corridor. Albus had wandered off slightly further ahead, leaving Minerva and Poppy to linger, trying to decide whether the cellar was a good place to enter. Albus opened the door to the living room, stepping inside. He glanced a cursory glance around the furniture, hand still clutching his wand. "Severus?" He whispered, not expecting a response but still feeling pain when he did not receive one. "Where are you, my boy?"
He ventured in further, nonverbally lighting his wand. There was something lurking behind the sofa covered in dirty, stained material. He couldn't quite - he stepped around the leg - whatever it was, it wasn't moving -
Poppy and Minerva jumped when they heard the cry of agony and distress that echoed through the empty corridors. Poppy looked to Minerva, "It's Albus - "
They hurtled back along the passageway, wands drawn, looking into the living room. "Albus?"
They could see their friend, kneeling behind the sofa, head bowed and some sort of terrible groaning sound falling from his lips. "Albus - are you hurt?" Minerva whispered, as Poppy surveyed the room, unable to see any threat.
Minerva edged closer, "Albus?"
Poppy crossed to her side and they both looked to see what was wrong with their friend.
Minerva grasped Poppy's arm tight as she saw first - and Poppy finally understood -
Albus was holding a pile a of black robes and white skin and red smears.
Something that had once been a person.
"It won't open." Arthur twisted the door handle violently - "It's enchanted - it won't open."
The five people gathered in the room looked around warily, Hermione gripping Ron's arm so her knuckles had turned almost white. Harry let out a breath he did not know he had been holding as they waited in the silence.
"There must be another way out." Remus murmured, moving toward the window. He pulled back the curtain and jumped back in near horror - Hermione shrieked as a severed hand, decayed and decomposing, fell to the floor with a thud and lay still. Ron put his arm around her shoulders to calm her, Harry touching her lower arm too. Remus recovered himself, "We need to get out of here."
"We'll try to blast the door down - stand back, you three." Arthur gestured to the three younger wizards, who had seen all sorts of horrors during the war yet still felt unsettled by Riddle Mansion - the very presence of Voldemort, no matter how lifeless his figure was - seemed to haunt every corner of the room.
Remus pointed his wand, "Confringo!"
His Blasting Curse hit the door - the door reverberated - but seemed undamaged - and instead, flames exploded across the walls around them, licking up the wooden beams and consuming the curtains and furniture.
"Damnit, Remus, do something!" Arthur shouted, attempting to put the flames out - but they would not quell - smoke billowed toward them and they started to cough -
Poppy and Minerva stared at the crumpled Albus and the even more crumpled Severus - Minerva's eyes burning and Poppy feeling white anger sear her chest - they had been so sure.
Albus drew back, just a little, robes and beard stained with red, tears easily leaking from his eyes as he tried to remember how to breathe.
Severus lay on his side.
Albus reached out and, after a moment to compose himself, carefully moved the other onto his back.
Poppy averted her gaze and Minerva's grip slackened as the smallest of cries forced itself from her mouth. Albus simply stared, unable to look away, unable to move, simply staring.
Poppy, a Healer and medi-witch, had dealt with injuries before and had seen much death and wounds through both her training and her career. She forced herself to swallow, her stomach suddenly unstable, and looked back toward what remained of Severus.
It was the eye sockets that frightened her the most - bloodied holes that gave way to access to the skull and muscles behind - lips that no longer resembled anything - and skin that was decaying and decomposed. It was only his hair and the half of his face that was not quite so bastardised that gave her any chance of recognition.
She gripped Minerva's hand to help her friend stay upright - "Albus..."
Albus still had not moved - and Poppy noticed something peculiar on his face. He seemed paralysed - paralysed with fear - but there was something - almost as if this was familiar to him.
As if he had seen it before.
It hit her.
All five wizards and witches were still on their feet, desperately fighting the flames, eyes streaming, chests wracked with coughs - they were starting to win - Hermione had chosen an enchantment that produced a protective shield, helping them to survive the intense heat. Arthur was still working on the door - the flames had weakened the wood - and perhaps now they could get out.
"I can't do this much longer!" Hermione's face was streaked with sweat and her wand hand was trembling. Harry was about to move - but Ron got there first, grabbing her wrist and putting his other arm around her waist, "We'll do it together - "
Remus and Arthur blasted their own curse at the door, and the wood finally gave way. "Everyone out!"
Hermione wrenched her arm away and the waves of heat pummelled them - but that survival instinct helped them and they headed for the door, sprinting into the cold corridor and down the stairs, still coughing, eyes still tearing. Remus turned back to see the door seem to repair itself, but the flames came no further - it was nothing more than an enchantment - "Let's regroup with Albus and Minerva - " Arthur panted, "I don't think we should be split up in here."
"Albus." Poppy murmured, "It's not real."
Albus looked up at her, but he wasn't there.
Minerva glanced at her, "What?"
"It's his Boggart."
"How do you know?" Minerva's eyes were reddened and she was shaking, hand still wrapped inside Poppy's.
Poppy simply looked at Albus, "Because he's seen Severus like this before - you need to help me, Minerva..." She raised her wand, "I'm really sorry, Minerva..." She struck out at the figure of Severus, and dragged Albus away, despite how he tried to cling to the crumpled robes.
The body of Severus jerked as if on a string - Poppy held her breath - and it changed shape.
Minerva flinched, her wand in her hand, staring at a man - Poppy could not see his face - but she saw the fear flicker across Minerva's, before she remembered it was not real - it could not be real - and she shouted the counter curse for the Boggart.
When Minerva smiled and half laughed at whatever she had done to the Boggart, it wavered and flinched - she transfigured the sofa into a box and cast the Boggart inside, locking the lid and turning to face Poppy, still clutching Albus.
Albus seemed to finally return to the present time - "...That wasn't him..."
Poppy was concerned by just how much Albus was shaking. "It was a Boggart - Albus - let's get you up."
He shook his head, "I can't do this."
Both Poppy and Minerva looked at him, "What?"
"...I can't...I shouldn't have come...what if..."
Minerva knelt in front of Albus, taking his hands, "He's still alive, Albus. You know it and I know it - we can feel it - we'll find him, we'll rescue him, and then everything will be fine. I promise."
Albus nodded at her words, eyes still cast down to his lap. His breathing was faster than usual. Minerva looked up at Poppy, who simply shook her head - it was shock - there was nothing they could do - they just had to keep going.
Thudding footsteps signalled the arrival of the rest of their party, Arthur at the head. They looked relieved to see Albus, even if he was sat amongst the dust. Minerva stood to face them, "Anything?"
"Nothing aside from some dark fire that nearly claimed all of us." Remus offered.
"We had a Boggart." Minerva replied, glancing meaningfully at Albus who was now running one hand absentmindedly through his beard.
Harry watched him - he seemed defeated. "Professor?"
Albus raised his head. "Is there a throne room, here? I can see an ivory chair."
No one asked where he could see this, or why, they simply stood to attention - "Not that we've seen." Arthur answered, but Albus was already getting to his feet, "Then we keep looking."
No more than ten minutes later, the small party had gathered by what seemed to be a wall. Except Albus was absolutely adamant there was something behind the wall - and Harry could feel it too. Almost like a shadow - but he could feel it.
"Albus, if there is no door, how do we expect to enter?" Remus tried warily, but Albus seemed pleased by this discovery and did not snap - "There is always a door, Remus - we just have to find it. It could be password based."
"Or voice." Arthur offered. "It could be that you needed his voice."
"Or wand or hand - like at Gringotts." Hermione added too, "There could be all sorts of protection."
Ron glanced at Harry, "If there's a door at all." His voice was a low murmur.
Albus contemplated. "No. It's more subtle than that. It is not even Parseltongue. It has to be something only Riddle would know." He paused, continuing to stare at the door. "Everybody stand back." He drew his wand, and muttered something that the others could not hear.
Nothing happened.
Albus' eyes narrowed and his forehead creased, "Not this time, Tom. You have kept him from me for too long." His voice became firmer, harder, sharper - "I have defeated Tom Riddle - I mastered him - and by order of Merlin, he shall not stand between me and Severus Snape!"
The wall shuddered - and the door appeared.
The party exchanged stunned glances, but Albus was simply tucking his wand away, "It was 'Snape'. That was what he wanted." He opened the door and stepped into the room.
Directly opposite the frame was an ivory chair - every muscle in Albus' body stiffened -
He saw the ivory chair, Lord Voldemort seated in its confines, wand raised. He lazily cast another curse and the figure at his feet flinched and jerked - there was half a scream - and then silence...
"...Severus?"
The room was high ceilinged and dark - but Albus could tell it had been used recently as there was very little dust - there was no other furniture - just the chair.
He saw the ivory chair, and the figure bound by wrist and ankles to its arms. Another man was knelt by the side of the throne, bloodied knife in hand, carefully and slowly prising fingernails from splayed fingers - and there were cries of pain from his prisoner - prisoner with dark hair and even darker eyes...
He swallowed the foul acid that burned at the back of his throat.
Someone, somewhere to his left, whispered his name. It was Poppy.
Albus turned to see what she was indicating with a trembling hand. Her wand had highlighted something - no, someone - against the wall in the corner, body crumpled and half chained to the wall so he looked like he was sitting.
Albus crossed to him at a near sprint, his wand clattering to the floor beside him, "Severus!" Poppy was by him a moment later, looking Severus over before holding one hand before his mouth for a long moment. Albus watched her, his fingers clutching at the fabric of Severus' robe.
She looked back at him. "He's breathing. He's alive."
Albus felt some sort of relief grab his chest and he could have dissolved into sobs right there, but he didn't - he held himself composed - and instead pressed the back of one hand to Severus' cheek, "Get us a light."
Minerva conjured a lamp, casting a small flame inside and held it above the collapsed Severus. Albus examined his friend carefully - his robes were badly torn, hair dirty and face slackened by unconsciousness - bruising and scars were evident across the pale skin. Both his legs were lying at a strange angle, which had concerned Poppy more than Albus, who continued to observe. Severus' wrists were chained to the wall above him, and the hands were nothing more than reddened masses of flesh, and the noticeable absence of any nails. Albus swallowed, thinking back to the box in his office where Tom's 'tokens' were stored, "C-Can we get him out of these chains?" He could see from the small distance the damage the manacles had done to the sensitive skin underneath.
Remus obeyed the soft request, and Albus cast his gaze back to Severus' face, "Severus..."
Poppy was still frowning. "I think he is just asleep, Albus."
Albus looked across at her, "Can you wake him?"
"I don't want to - he should - " She trailed off as something that could have been a grimace flittered across Severus' face. "Never mind."
Albus kept his hand close to Severus, "Severus - it's Albus - we've come to get you out of here, my boy."
Remus managed to free Severus' wrists and the arms slumped to the ground. Albus examined the amount of damaged skin, trying not to recoil at Severus' hands. "Can you speak, my boy?" He murmured, fighting the trembles in his voice as he desperately craved even a whisper from Severus.
Black eyes fluttered open and Albus found himself looking down into irises he knew better than his own, and he managed a weak smile. "Hello..."
Severus didn't answer. He simply stared at Albus.
No. Just past Albus.
Poppy leaned forward. "Albus. He can't see you."
He glanced at her, "What do you mean, he can't see me?"
She paused before answering. "...It's part of the damage - I think he's paralysed - and he's blind."
