Chapter Eleven: Setting the Trap:
Hogwarts:
Harry sat in the headmaster's office his head reeling at the terrible news Dumbledore had just shared with him. The whole school knew about the attack in Hogsmeade earlier that day and the Slytherins were a sullen lot to deal with the rest of the day. Draco looked very pale and angry and Harry felt for him, he knew Severus was his godfather and would be worried sick. Now Harry finished reading the letter and looked over at Sirius who looked so sick with worry. Harry knew what was being asked of him and only the reassuring hand of Remus on his shoulder kept him from getting sick. The other heads of house were here as well and Harry knew what was going to be asked of him and he knew they cared enough to give him a choice. He looked at the aged headmaster who's blue eyes had lost all their twinkle and was stunned how old and fragile he looked.
"I wish there was another way Harry I do." Dumbledore said really meaning it. "But well you know he will carry out his threat."
"Well I do know what the prophecy says, I know why Voldemort attacked Mr. Weasley." Harry said, "I would rather he have the prophecy than have professor Snape harmed sir."
"Harry do you realize this will be dangerous?" Sirius said and then he actually smiled.
"Never say dangerous to a Gryffindor Mr. Black." Flitwick said, "you know how you lot will purposely run into it, forgive me Minerva but your house is how does the muggle phrase go, ah yes cannon fodder."
"Really Filius that is a bit unfair." McGonagall said.
"So are we thinking of setting a trap?" Remus asked, "I mean we have to get something out of this."
"I was thinking of that." Dumbledore replied, "with Umbridge and the rest of the ministry refusing to believe Voldemort is back now might be the time to lure him to a trap. I am thinking of seeing if maybe that prophecy does not have to be filled."
"What do you mean Al?" Aberforth said from the corner where he had been standing, he knew from the other timeline that Dumbledore had tried to kill Voldemort and could not. "Surely you will not take him on?"
"I must, and young Harry here must go and help set the trap." Dumbledore said.
"Yes sir, um how?" Harry asked.
"Open your mind, just a bit." Dumbledore said and McGonagall grabbed the desk for support as this was hurting her badly.
"Professor McGonagall it's alright." Harry said seeing how upset this was making her, "I will be alright, this could be fun!"
Sirius was not sure about the fun part, well part of him thought it could be fun and another part was sick with dread. This was his godson willingly going into battle and he was so very young, then again was not David just as young or younger when he faced Goliath? And everyone knew how that turned out for the boy. He ended up with a kingdom in time and Goliath ended up dead. Still this was Harry and he had lost so much already and could loose more because of this!
"So tell us the plan." Sirius said.
"Um I did not have a plan really." Harry said blushing and grinning.
"I have an idea." Aberforth said, "and it will involve more students than Harry at this time."
"Tell us your plan then." Dumbledore said knowing his brother did have good ideas…
Voldemort's Dungeon:
Severus had gotten over his panic for the time being and it was fast being replaced with raw rage, he was still naked and now cold and hungry he only wanted out of this evil place. The main fact for his anger was not all this, it was Wormtail who was standing over him now taunting him and hinting exactly what he wanted to do to him if his master only let him. Finally Severus could take no more, he was on his knees, a position Wormtail forced him into and in the middle of the vast chamber. It was a mistake on Wormtail's part as he forgot that Severus was a very powerful wizard and man. Severus snapped and was on his feet so fast and had Wormtail's wand in an instant, he hit Wormtail several times with his fists and kicked him hard. Severus looked murderous but his thoughts now turn only of escape and tried to Apparate out of the chamber. He gasped in shock and staggered back as Anti-Apparition spell threw him across the room. He found the wand summoned from his hands and he saw Voldemort over him and he did his best to show defiance not the fear that was fast replacing rage in his gut.
"You are very entertaining boy, did you really think I would not have this chamber protected from any leaving or coming as they wished?" Voldemort said to Severus, when Severus refused to answer he raised his wand. "Answer me child."
"Go to hell." Severus replied moving to stand but someone hit him hard across the back with a staff.
"You dare try to stand before yer betters?" Came a voice Severus knew all too well, that of Amicus Carrow, an evil wizard who delighted in pain and torture.
"I got a letter from Dumbledore." Voldemort said coldly, "seems he thinks he can lecture me on how to treat you."
"He is far better than you!" Severus snarled getting kicked and hit for that, he spat out blood and glared up at Voldemort. "I rest my case."
"Master we could show the headmaster we are in earnest." Wormtail said giving Severus a look that froze the man's blood. "Send him something of his pet."
"Yes, I like it." Voldemort said, "Come Wormtail let us talk, Fenrir, Amicus, McNair stay with our guest."
If Severus had realized (as he really felt he should have) that Grayback was in the room he would not have been so brave in his words. Terror fast replaced any since of bravery he had felt as the werewolf circled him and growled softly at him. Severus was all too aware the hatred the werewolf had for him, he had after all come up with a vaccine that thwarted Grayback's plans on dominating the world with werewolves. Grayback grabbed Severus by the hair and drug him up easily and taunted him by threatening to bite him, Severus struggled and tried to fight back and was hit for that. He was dropped to the floor and the death eaters jeered at him and he curled up as he was hit kicked and beaten by the death eaters. They only stopped when Voldemort came back with Wormtail and looked down at Severus with amusement.
"Hold him down." He ordered and Severus found himself flat on his stomach death eaters holding him down with their hands not magic, one to each limb. "I cannot say this is not personal."
"Leave me alone you bastards!" Severus screamed in rage fighting down his fear, remembering a time long ago how Wormtail had egged on three other boys, no he could not go back there, not that as he would be sick if he did. "You dare do this to me? I am the head of Slytherin!"
"Wormtail choose a leg." Voldemort said coldly. "He can keep his hands for now."
"No," Severus said bile rising in his throat, he did not want to beg but he could not help himself, not this time. "Please don't, don't take my legs!"
"Maybe you should not have tried to escape then." Wormtail sneered taking out a wicked looking knife. "This will keep you from doing that again."
"You, you cannot allow this, Voldemort you cannot let him do this!" Severus screamed and Voldemort turned on him.
"You dare use my name boy?" He hissed, "do it Wormtail."
Severus tried to struggle but the death eaters held him fast and Wormtail quickly went to work. He grabbed Severus's left foot and went for the smallest toe. Severus screamed in shock and pain and nearly blacked out from the pain. Wormtail stood up with the digit and Voldemort spelled the wound so it would stop bleeding. He took the toe and put it in a box and called for an owl and sent the grizzly package and a letter off with it. Then he looked down at the trembling crying battered man on the floor and opened his mind and contacted the boy he wanted to see this the most. Wormtail in an act of pure maliciousness and evil (really when is anything he does not evil) stomped on Severus's right hand breaking his fingers.
"That is for insulting my master and attacking me!" Wormtail hissed at Severus.
"I will kill you!" Severus snarled blocking out the pain he was in as much as he could.
"MacNair, show him our displeasure." Voldemort said handing over a whip.
"Yes master."
He stood over Severus and began to use the whip on his back, Severus did his level best not to cry out at this but his body was so frayed and weak from abuse he could not help it. He could not even find breath to speak and cried out in pain as the whip cut him again and again and again leaving deep bloody welts and cuts all along his back. Finally Voldemort raised his hand to stop the torture and ordered his death eaters out of the room. He walked up to Severus who was in too much shock to even fight back now. Severus just lay there in too much pain to move at this point. He could not believe that Voldemort really was this evil to treat him this way, he had not done anything for him to treat him like this. Unless he knew how close he was to Harry Potter, dread filled him as realization came to him and he looked up at Voldemort who was regarding him with cold red eyes.
"So you finally figure it out did you pet?" Voldemort said softly.
"You, you cannot, he is just a boy!" Severus pleaded, "he never did anything to you!"
"He lives that is a problem for me pet, you will be the bait that brings him to me." Voldemort said crouching down by Severus. "Now you understand why I have treated you the way I have, cannot have you doing anything… rash can we?"
Severus bit back the bile rising in his throat and tried to fight back the tears that began to spill down his face.
"You are weak, foolish, you love that boy and it will be his and your undoing." Voldemort hissed.
"You murdered two of the best people I have ever known, turned a boy to an orphan and now you want to kill him, kill me instead, let the boy live." Severus pleaded looking into those cold eyes that had no mercy or pity for anyone. "Please take my life instead."
"No but I will allow you to watch him die." Voldemort said getting up looking down with contempt and the sobbing man on the floor, "you are pitiful this is what my house is reduced to?"
Yet it was not Severus Snape who was pitiful it was Voldemort for treating him in this manner. There had been a time that Severus would have given into hatred and darkness and joined Voldemort. No more would he do that and his willingness to die for Harry Potter showed just how far he had come. To beg the dark lord Voldemort to spare the boy and take his life showed nobleness and courage beyond what many in Gryffindor would ever have. Voldemort left the battered bloody potions master and went to set his trap in motion…
Hogwarts:
Dumbledore was not sure how the Slytherins would take seeing the headmaster here. After all according to his brother (who it seemed was more right about things than not) he had not been very fair to that house. Well not after Tom had betrayed them all but who wanted to dwell on that? Next to the aged Headmaster walked Alastor Moody, Umbridge had tried to pitch a fit at him being here but he one look from him and she had gone to hide in her office. Dumbledore ordered the plain wooden door to open as it was his right as Headmaster to enter any house of the school and he walked in, he was clad in robes of green hoping to show some solidarity with the students. He was not surprised to see the older students looking defiant and he felt badly for the younger ones most who were crying.
"Why is he here?" Draco Malfoy asked glaring at Moody.
"I am here Mr. Malfoy as I was in Slytherin and well you cannot be left alone, the headmaster would not like that."
"Think we would burn down the school that it?" Draco said.
"Um you should not say that." Pansy said softly by his arm.
"No he has every right to say that." Dumbledore said, "I am sorry we have not always been on good standing, but I hope to change that. Professor Snape is a dear friend and college and I have neglected this house for far too long. I wish to make amends to that if you will let me."
"What are you doing to get professor Snape back sir?" Montague a burly seventh year asked.
"Voldemort had demands he wanted met." Dumbledore said heavily.
"What kind of demands?" Theodore Nott asked.
"He wanted information in return for professor Snape." Moody replied.
"Alastor!" Dumbledore warned the aged former Auror.
"They have a right to know Albus." Moody countered. "An' to yer answer yer question we are going to give him what he wants t' get professor Snape back."
"I see, you do care about him at least." Draco said glaring at the headmaster. "But that is only because he is so brilliant at his job."
"Mr. Malfoy!" Moody growled at the boy.
"No Alastor he is right to think ill of me, I have not been as good to this house as I could." Dumbledore said, "however that will change I promise you, professor Moody will be here tonight if you need anything."
Draco did want to believe him but had a hard time trusting him, then again the old headmaster looked so worried and well old! He watched the headmaster leave the Slytherin common room and he turned to Moody. Boy and man regarded each other warily neither trusting the other at all. Tension filled the air when something happened that no-one expected. A tiny first year girl, normally tough as nails outside this common room ran up and buried her head in the robes of Moody sobbing. He looked down at her stunned and was not sure what to do. He remembered his own children so long ago and he gently steered the child to a chair, sat down and let her put her head against his shoulder. He rubbed her back wondering just what about him made this girl think he was a bloody teddy bear?
"You lot got studying to do?" He growled at the students watching him.
"Um yes sir." Nott said and the students scurried off to study.
"Professor Snape does that a lot." Draco said wanting to talk to someone even if it was this old gruff Auror.
"What boy?"
"Um comforts the first years, the rest of the school hates us you know." Draco said.
"I know, ain't right, look th' headmaster will do all he can t' get professor Snape back, hell I would too but as Slughorn has gone into hiding well someone had to stay behind and make sure you lot did not burn down th' school as you put it."
"Sorry sir it was ah just well I don't really trust the headmaster." Draco said.
"Well he is trying, give him time and as fer you."
"I am not going to take the mark." Draco said quietly, "I don't want to, I don't want that kind of life. You have a right to suspect me."
"Aye that I do." Moody said looking down at the young girl who had deposited herself on his lap and was now asleep against his shoulder. "Do I look like a ruddy teddy bear?"
"Well no sir she would rather have professor Snape but you will do I guess sir." Draco said looking alarmed as Moody's mismatched eyes glared at him. "Um sorry sir."
Moody just grunted and Draco scurried off to get some studying done alone with the rest of the house. Though classes were over Severus required his house to keep studying, it was for two reasons, one was he wanted to keep them learning and second was to keep the other houses from tormenting his students. It had gotten much better since Harry had started as he had been at the very least polite to Slytherins and many followed his lead as he was a celebrity and people like to follow the famous. Moody looked down at the sleeping girl and remembered his children when they were young all those years ago. Then he thought of Severus Snape and felt badly how he had treated the boy for so many years. He vowed to start over once, not if but once Severus was brought back to them alive.
Yea Voldemort is pure evil and doing what he did to Severus just proves it. However he does not know that a trap is laid to at the very least expose him and he will pay for his arrogance that much is clear. Since this was Wormtail's idea in what was done to Severus there is a special place in hell for him.