Chapter 9
Severus watched in total fear as the Killing Curse actually lit up the entire room. He assumed that it was Voldemort whom had cast the spell; he felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach. Dumbledore had been so very wrong; Harry had obviously not been ready at all. He closed his eyes in growing horror, he felt like his heart was being torn in two.
He opened his eyes dreading what he was about to see, but instead he found his eyes widening in surprise and fear. There stood Harry Potter in all his glory, a black wand in his hand looking more powerful than any being on the planet including Dumbledore. His green eyes glowing with anger and love, then he realized what had happened.
His head snapped to where Voldemort had been standing, so fast that you could actually hear the neck cracking. He shook his head, unable to believe that the monster was really gone. After all the pain and terror he had caused everyone, he was brought down by a single curse from Harry Potter? It seemed surreal to Severus.
Where was the huge battle? Where was Harry coming to play the hero? He was sure the defeat of Voldemort was not meant to leave him hollow. Shaking his head once again he fell to his knees before slowly rolling up his sleeve. Gasping in shock as well as awe…for the first time since he was fifteen he saw a clean unmarked unscarred forearm.
There and then he knew Voldemort was really gone, and would never be coming back. He was finally free of spying, finally free of the master he had bound himself to willingly many years ago. Finally free of being tortured all the time, finally free to live his life, as he wanted it.
Coming out of his shocked state, he looked around to his horror and shock Harry Potter was nowhere to be found. He could not so much as look around more, he heard popping coming from the next room. Giving the room one last glance, he didn't find what he wanted to find. Forcing himself to apparate out, he didn't want to be found here.
If he had been, he would have either been arrested, if it were Aurors or killed if it were the Death Eaters. However, Harry had summoned the Aurors before apparating out. Severus Snape had been in his state of shock, and had not even paid attention to his surroundings. By the time he had, Harry Potter was gone.
Severus apparated back to Hogwarts tired beyond belief. All he wanted to do was sleep. He had, had too many shocks in one day, and his mind and body couldn't take any more stress. Add to the fact that he hadn't been getting a proper night sleep in past couple of weeks, just made it worse than usual. However, he was not granted his wish.
"Severus my office please" said Dumbledore commandingly.
"Yes sir," said Severus sighing softly might as well get the up coming interrogation done with.
He was still not even sure who had placed the Imperius curse on him…however; he had a sneaking suspicion that it had been Dumbledore.
He found himself completely weary as he made his way up to the old man's office, he swore he would not eat or drink anything the man gave him.
"Severus what happened?" asked Dumbledore as soon as Severus shut the door of his office.
"Harry killed the Dark Lord" said Severus; he would no longer hide his feelings for Harry.
"When did he become Harry, Severus?" asked Dumbledore.
"When you forced me to get together with him, so you could manipulate him better. I know you put me under the Imperius curse, I don't care why or how but if that happens again I will walk out of this school and never come back" said Severus.
"Very well Severus, however, I had to make sure the boy was sent to the Dark Lord, too many families have died waiting on Potter doing his job" said Dumbledore.
"If you had let him fight then perhaps he would have been able to do it sooner" said Severus.
"We could not take the risk Severus" said Dumbledore.
"But you took one hell of a risk tonight; you forced me to leave his wand behind! If he had not had another one he would have died tonight!" snapped Severus.
"Another wand? I see…it seems he has been doing things behind my back after all just as I suspected. Hmmm…we will just have to see what I can do about that" said Dumbledore.
"You will do nothing, he has done what you wanted him to do just leave him the hell alone" snapped Severus, he didn't care anymore about his life. Harry had obviously found someone else or something along the lines. He had been cold and uncaring as well as out right avoiding him for the past two weeks.
"Where is he?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes flashing with anger.
"I don't know, I was in shock. I checked my arm to see if he really was gone. There is nothing left, so that means Voldemort really is gone. By the time I looked up Harry was gone and no there was trace of him to be found" said Severus, hiding his heartache from the world.
"Well we must send people out to look for him" said Dumbledore just as his office door banged open.
"Kingsley, what is it?" asked Dumbledore irritated.
"Voldemort is dead, and pensive memories were sent via owl to Madam Bones on every active Death Eater. They are all being captured as we speak; it is Harry Potter's memories. He also called the Aurors we don't know where he is" said Shacklebolt.
"Also Rumor has it that Harry has taken his rightful inheritance. I heard the Goblins saying someone was stealing Harry's money and the money being replaced or something" said Bill coming in.
"What?" asked Dumbledore looking well and truly shocked.
"Yeah shocking, it's like the Goblins were told to be loose tongued about it, they never talk about their clients so openly. Everyone in Hogsmeade knows!
In fact it will be published in the paper soon most likely" said Bill not understanding why Dumbledore was as shocked as he was. Probably that Harry's money was being stolen was all he thought.
"You won't believe what I've just found out!" said Tonk's coming into the room gracefully for once.
"What can be worse?" asked Dumbledore still sitting in near shock.
"Fudge and many important Ministry officials are Death Eaters; Madam Bones is the new Minister of Magic. It was approved by more than half of the Wizengamont right there and then" said Tonks.
"I see" said Dumbledore wondering when he had suddenly lost control over everything. He was shocked that Fudge was a Death Eater; he knew the man was a moron but this?
"Funny thing is, there is sometimes a black blur in the pensive's as if Harry deliberately left someone out. I think it's actually Snape that's been blurred, thankfully" said Tonks, she knew Snape was a spy and risked his life for their cause.
"Good" said Severus sighing thankfully, so he would not be sent to Azkaban any time soon.
"Also I think you will have your properties and money back soon" said Tonks.
"How do you mean?" asked Severus, he didn't know how much more surprises he could take tonight.
"Madam Bones is having people going though the files of people accused, anyone there who was not in the pensive's being given their assets back." said Tonks.
"I need to make an appointment to see Minister Bones now" said Dumbledore getting up.
"She is busy Sir, she is not seeing anyone right now. The ministry building is closed down to everyone. Apart from Aurors and they have to show their badges,
I think that's a first" said Shacklebolt.
"I am Head of the Wizengamont!" protested Dumbledore looking shocked that the Ministry was closed! It had not been closed in all of the one hundred and sixty years he had been alive.
"You can try sir" said Tonks shrugging her shoulders.
"Excuse me" said Severus making his way out.
"Of course Severus," said Dumbledore, keeping his mask firmly in place, he had been doing it for one hundred years, he would not let it slip now.
"Congratulations" said Shacklebolt.
Severus looked confused for a second, then he realized what the man meant. Nodding his head curtly in thanks he left the room. He needed a sleep and a long one at that, he could look for Harry when he woke up. He could not look for his missing lover when he was dead on his feet.
He made his way down to his quarters as quickly as humanly possible, thinking what he could have done to hurt Harry. He still didn't understand Harry's coldness towards him, unless Dumbledore had told Harry about him. However, Dumbledore would not blow everything by letting Harry know until afterwards.
Hopefully if he got to Harry first he could explain, sighing softly he collapsed on his bed after putting strong warding spells on his quarters. He didn't want the chance of anyone getting in; he was snoring softly on top of the covers within seconds.
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Dumbledore had tried and failed to get into the Ministry, not from the lack of trying or anything. The Aurors worked all night, even Malfoy was arrested with the proof they had. They were tested for the Imperius curse; Madam Bones had a healer go around the now very full cells and check, with three armed Aurors of course.
Every single one of them proved that they did not have the Imperius curse on them, nor any mind control potions. They had no excuses when they came in front of the Wizengamont.
They had trials all though the night, which didn't last any longer than ten minutes per person. Madam Bones had consented to the use of Veritaserum, and they all to their displeasure were Death Eaters and enjoyed what they do. They were not forced into being a Death Eater, all bar one.
One had been broken until they could not stand the pain, and had accepted the mark just to stop the pain. She revealed how horrible it was being a Death Eater, and how over happy she was that he was dead. He could no longer hurt her, when they had asked her if she deserved Azkaban her answer surprised them all. She had said yes she deserved it, and believed she should be given the Dementors kiss for her crimes. However, they did have pensive memories about someone being forced into it, but she had been wearing a mask and they had not been able to identify her.
Now they knew who it was…and they did indeed let her go…free of charges. However, she was sent to St. Mungo's so she could get better. They didn't want to let her go in case she tried to kill herself, she needed help to get over what she had been forced to do.
Her name was Abby Nott…Daughter of two known Death Eaters, the brother who was younger, was not a Death Eater, and didn't want too be one either. But would have agreed so he didn't have to go through what his big sister had gone though.
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Dumbledore had gone back to Hogwarts, disappointed shocked and angry. He had always been in control for a long time; everything seemed to be falling apart.
The world was able to run without him, something he didn't like. He hated the fact that they were able to think for themselves, and not ask his advice…after all he was the great Albus Dumbledore.
Not so great now…he was being ignored.
Sighing softly he realized he needed to sleep on it, think something up tomorrow, she would need to see him eventually. He could play his manipulations on her, and she would always ask for his advice.
Or so he hoped.
What he didn't realize was people had a younger saviour, one who was more powerful and had defeated Voldemort when Dumbledore could not.
Everyone would want to be given advice by Harry Potter…not Albus Dumbledore.
That would probably be the thing that broke the camels back for Albus Dumbledore when he realized this…until then.
