Chapter 7: Interlude & Escape

Snape sank to the ground as he finished the spell. Harry hurried over and took his wand from Snape's insensate fingers. He shook Snape's shoulder. "Professor. Wake up! I'm free. Come on, wake up! We've gotta go!" Snape didn't answer.

A stroke of lightening lit the sky, illuminating the professor's face. Harry stared at the shiny weals crisscrossing Snape's sallow face. He suddenly felt both grateful and guilty that either of them were there. He touched his wand to one of the welts and mumbled a counter curse.

Snape woke with a start as the counter curse sparked over his skin. He slapped the wand away, breathing hard, but then his eyes narrowed. A moment later he put his hand to the fading lump. "Don't touch me, Potter," he growled.

A rumble of thunder made Harry look to the sky. Snape levered himself onto an elbow and forced himself to his feet. "Why are you still here? You should be gone." His eyes darkened as he swayed.

Harry jumped to his feet. "What? I'm not going anywhere without you!" Harry reached out, but Snape shrugged him off.

Snape stared at him. "Yes, you are. I told you before: the grave holds the way out. Now go." Snape turned his back, looking for the blood splattered tree.

"What do you mean?" Harry shook his head as Snape stepped away. "How does killing myself get me out of here?" he asked humorlessly.

Snape turned a withering stare at Harry. "How would that help us, Potter?"

Harry bit his lip. "It's just...You said the grave holds a way out, but...doesn't that mean dying? Sir?" Snape blinked at him. "I don't understand. Just say what you mean."

Professor Snape stared. "I do say what I mean." Snape stepped up to the tree and pulled at the wand hilt. It didn't move. Finally, Snape's lip twitched. "'He's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden.' Hmm?" He looked over his shoulder at Harry.

Harry flinched angrily at the ridicule in Snape's voice. "I got it's a code!"

Snape flicked his arm and turned against the tree. "So figure it out then!"

Harry dropped his hand. "How can I? I don't know what it means!"

Snape barred his yellowed teeth. "Even Pettigrew is sharper than you. He seems to have gotten the point, even if you didn't, Potter. One of these gravestones will get you to Hogwarts, if that's where you want to go. So choose it and get out of here!"

Harry looked around sharply. He was irritated by Snape's patronizing. What did he know? Harry felt he didn't know anything about these graves! How was he supposed to know which would send him back to Hogwarts?

"Still don't understand?" Snape's voice purred against the grumbling thunder, "How surprising. Then let me enlighten you, Mr. Potter. Tom Riddle's grave is your way out. All you have to do is touch your wand to it, if you can figure out something so simple." Snape pushed himself up the tree.

Harry was starting to hate Snape again. He was just beginning to regret having used that counter curse. Maybe he could lay a stinging hex on Snape, too, just because. "Wait! You're saying Riddle's grave is a portkey?"

Snape pursed his lips. "Not all portals are portkeys, Mr. Potter. The stone will not disappear; nor is it under Ministry supervision. And it will only work for you."

"Oh." Harry looked questioningly to Snape, then slowly approached Riddle's headstone. "Why only..."

But as he put his hand to the marker, the dark clouds broke. Sheets of rain washed his hair into his eyes. He turned to Snape, standing in the soaking rain and staring at the mansion. Snape hadn't moved.

Harry frowned. "Aren't you coming?"

Snape's brows knit. "You don't listen to me at all, do you, Potter? I have to find my own way from here." His shoulders slumped. "So, go." A moment later Snape sank to his knees in the rain.

Harry ran back to him. There was no way he was leaving Snape here. "Can't you apparate out of here? That's how you got here, right, Professor?"

Snape's eyes drifted shut. "I planned to. I would have had the strength, if you would have gone when you should have." His voice faded. "I can barely stand up. Do you really think I could apparate now?"

Harry caught Snape's shoulders as he fell. Harry was suddenly frightened. Snape was hurt. Hurt for Harry's sake. He wouldn't leave the professor here for the Death Eaters to find. They would come back and kill Snape if he stayed. Professor Snape would die like Sirius had died, or worse.

Harry tried hard to keep his head. Maybe if he could provoke Snape, he would find the energy to apparate. What would make him mad?

Harry filled his voice with accusation as he shook Snape. "You didn't come all this way to find me, did you? What did you want to do? Help Voldemort along? Watch me die? I heard that prophesy! Small payback to my Dad for saving your life!"

Snape stared at him. "What?"

Harry was going to get a rise out of Snape somehow. "You didn't come here to save me of your own accord, did you? You don't even want to protect me! You don't care about anybody except yourself! So who sent you? Dumbledore?"

Color drained from Snape's face. He was shouting now. "Not protect you? People were trying to protect you before you were even born! They died because of you! Why don't you see what is right in front of your face, Potter? No! As long as you get your own way, follow your own rules, ignore those that are trying to help you...teach you...Get out of here, Potter, before you see another life wasted!"

"No!" Harry thundered back. "If you've got the power to shout at me, then use it to apparate out of here!"

Snape's lips parted...

"Is too late for that!" A voice cackled out of the rain. "MAS-TERRRSSS!" Kreacher shrieked.

Harry jumped around, immediately raising his wand. But the Black family's house-elf vanished with a crack! Harry's hex slashed though empty air.

Harry grabbed Snape's arm. "COME ON! We're going!"

Snape hissed and jerked back. "My wand. I have to have it! You go!"

"Who cares?" Harry grabbed Snape's coat and hauled him up. "Leave it!"

"No!" Snape's shriek turned into a short scream when Harry grabbed his arm. "Professor! You have to move!"

Snape tried to pull away from Harry's tightening grip, but Harry jerked him forward. "Come on! What is wrong with you!"

They struggled, Harry pulling them both toward Riddle's grave. Snape managed to shove Harry's hand from his arm and hissed. "I can't use the stone anyway, Potter! I have to get my wand. Just go! I'll get out of this."

"No!" Harry made another grab at Snape. He was beginning to feel wild--angry and frightened. Lightening lit the sky as the door of the mansion slammed open. "I'm not leaving you here for them! Stop fighting me! There must be a way to make it work for you, too!" Harry grabbed a fistful of Snape's coat and jabbed his wand at the headstone. He had no control of his magic this time, just a desperate desire to escape and take Snape with him.

The Death Eaters bolted down the path toward them, Kreacher laughing manically and pointing. "There they is, Masters!"

Lucius Malfoy reached into his robe, and his wand whipped through the air. He shouted, "Avada Kedavra!" just as Voldemort shrieked: "I WANT THEM BOTH ALIVE!"

Green light streaked through the graveyard. Harry leapt forward, dragging Snape after him.

There was a bloodcurdling screech.

The curse slammed into the professor. He was thrown against Harry and they tumbled into the gravestone.

The two of them vanished.

Lucius Malfoy slowed to a stop. He stood on the hillside with his eyes closed, biting his lips together. A stifling, cold silence built behind him. The other Death Eaters stood as still as he. Lucius started shaking; he didn't want to turn.

On the hill behind him Voldemort began to scream.