Disclaimer: HP/SS implied. Credit to JRK.

You Could

By WittchWay

Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped first into the forest just beyond Merlin Square and almost wished he hadn't.

What lay before him was almost total darkness. The canopy of tree branches and vines were so thick it blocked out every source of light, from the stars and moon to the glow of Hogsmeade just a few feet away. The forest ahead reeked of gloom and despair, and what he was sure was the stink of death eaters. He stood stock-still waiting for his eyes to adjust.

Snape moved silently to stand next to him, his wand raised with a thin strip of light shining from it, that did nothing to brighten the shadows of the forest. Snape's dark eyes were narrowed and scanned the woods before him.

Nothing moved, not a leaf, a bug or creature. It was as if the forest was dead, as if every ounce of life had been sucked from it.

They moved as one further into the forest only to be greeted with a bone chilling gust of air that seemed to come from no where and touched only them.

The cold blast of air that surround them made him shiver and nearly stop in his tracks as his body and eyes adjusted to the difference in surroundings. It was if he had stepped over into an angry haven of oaks. The silence was disturbing.

Shacklebolt slowed his pace as he moved deeper into the forest, "Do you see them?" the Auror whispered. He knew McGonagall couldn't be that much further ahead, she had never quite recovered from the multiple stunning hexes a few years back. He thought he caught a glimpse of movement up ahead but couldn't be sure with the way the shadows fell upon each other.

Deeper and deeper into the forest they moved, walking long enough that doubt of where they were going was starting to settle in their minds. Snape followed in silence listening for footsteps or a breath other then there own.

And then there was nothing.

The trees were gone and only the blinding light of the sun was there and beyond lay an open wheat colored field. A half-circle of mismatched boulders was positioned before them, so large only magic could have moved them into their positioning.

A small number of death eater milled about the stones, one had McGonagall by the arm, another had Auror Bell held at wand point. None seemed surprised to see him.

"He's waiting Snape…," said the Death Eater as he spotted the two men emerging from the forest. "He wants you to witness Potter's Death." He chuckled and dragged McGonagall into the stone circle. Bell and the other Death Eater followed.

Snape darted forward, Shacklebolt grabbed his arm, "Keep cool Snape. We don't know what's in there. Remember back up is on the way we just need to stall."

Snape snorted, he had been dealing with Death Eaters long before Shacklebolt had been an Auror. Snape sneered and led the way beyond the rocks.

"Ah, Headmaster Snape…Come…join us" The Dark Lord smirked, waving the man forward. "I was just informing your mate how I was going to finally have the pleasure of killing him." He gave a twirl of what was obviously Harry Potters Aurors wand in his hand.

Harry was unmoving before him in a kneeling position, his head bent, damp sweat soaked hairs curled up at the base of his neck. A tired hand moved up to rub at his green eyes.

Snape moved slowly into the circle, not responding to the words obviously meant to provoke a negative reaction. Besides the obvious players in Voldemorts twisted game of cat and mouse were an alarming number of cloaked death eaters. More then Snape had ever been aware.

He moved closer until he was next to where Potter was kneeling. He let his finger touch the mop of hair tenderly for a moment and then gave a slight tug indicating the boy should stand. Harry took his hand and pulled himself up, wobbly on his feet he leaned into his bond, "I'm sorry Snape…" He whispered, "I didn't think…" He trailed off.

Snape bit his tongue in order not to respond. Instead he gave a tug on the back of the boy's robe trying to get him to move so they could get the hell out of here.

"Now Headmaster you don't seriously think I would let you leave that easily…" Voldemorts voice had dropped to a terrifying whisper, "We have so much to accomplish today, We still have the matter of your bonds death or yours if you prefer…"

"What makes you think you can kill him this time…you've fail several times now," Snape sneered, grabbing Harry's arm and started to walk away, dragging the boy behind him. He half expected to be hexed, he had never in all his years of service to the Dark Lord turned his back on him.

But turning from him just reminded him that they were grossly outnumbered. Besides Potter and himself, Shacklebolt, McGonagall and a handful of Aurors they were alone…

He looked over his sad little group, two of the Aurors and McGonagall were in holding status. He had not worked with Shacklebolt enough to know how the man's strategize. The other Aurors he didn't trust at all, after all they were simple ministry officials.

"… But that was then Headmaster Snape… and really I have you to thank for now." Voldemort stopped his caged animal pacing and smiled in delight.

Something in the smooth tones of the Dark Lords voice made Snape stop. He turned slowly back around to see the strangest twinkle of happiness he had ever seen on the monster's face. A sheer joy that he knew something they didn't. Knowledge only he was privileged to…

Snapes mind race, it had to be something that had happened in the last few days he was going to use to his advantage. Something within the bond, but the bond had been successful that he was sure of…their powers had increased or at least his had. He could feel the strength of his own power but he could feel nothing from Potter… that had to be the weakness…had he done something to Potter. Had he been cursed?

Snape raised his wand. There was no way he was going to let Potter be hurt by this mad man. He would fight to the death if he had to.

He looked over at Potter by his side. Looking tired and hurt, scraps he hadn't noticed before marred one side of his face, the lightening bolt scar on his forehead was red and blistered. Snape suspected one of the unforgivable's or its close cousins had been place upon him.

Lord Voldemort chuckled, "Whatever you are thinking Headmaster Snape you are wrong." He straightened his back, "This is not something I did to your precious boy but something you did to him… Should I kneel down and kiss the hem of your robes in thank you… but we both know how I feel about such things." he winked at Snape.

"It took me a long time but I finally figured out why it was I couldn't kill you Harry potter," Lord Voldemort addressed the boy, continuing to pace as if he had never stopped.

"The boy-who- lived was that eternal thorn in my side. What spell had been placed upon you to keep you, a little boy, alive? I instantly ruled out the dark arts, your parents weren't that smart. I knew it was old magic, perhaps a charm only a parent could cast…. For the longest time I thought it something I was missing or a spell that had been manipulated to keep you alive. But it wasn't, it was the simplest most contrite Mudblood thing in the world…"

He laughed again as if amused by his own intelligence. He clapped his hands once startling some owls that had been roosting in the cleft of several rocks overhead.

"I had to ask myself why won't Harry Potter die... fore I wished for you death so many times boy…Just an ordinary boy, famous for a failed curse…I gave him. It was you who were almost my downfall, you with no special powers. How could I, whom prided myself on my wizarding heritage…I who believed in preservation of our pureblood heritage…. Be out done by such an ordinary half blood like you. And there it was right before my face… thinking like a wizard was almost my undoing. Ironic really, I who had turned my back on my muggle heritage, I who had repressed my muggle family…but it was them, their death that reminded me why you and I were so alike…yet opposite in only one way."

Lord Voldemort grinned as if he was about to share the mysteries of the universe, "You, Harry Potter had love… Love of your parents. You had love that only a mother could give her son. Love of your father, of family. Love… foolish emotion. Foolish trusting sentiment..." He cocked his head to one side, his voice was softer when he spoke next, "and that Harry Potter is what I underestimated… Love. I who had never known my mothers unconditional love, I who had been abandoned by my muggle father and his family. I who had never known love. .. That was why I didn't think of such simplicity."

"Love. I should have known." Voldemort sneered, "It's a disease that's littered the planet for all of time. A mother's love for her child, the need to protect, to care for, to nourish and cherish, blah…blah blah… But now that meddlesome emotion is gone, now her love has been voided, her protection lifted I am free to kill you Harry Potter. Free to proceed with my plans for the future." He grinned down at the young man cruelly.

"I should thank you for that Severus. Perhaps I'll let you live and serve me, as you always should have…" With a quick slide of hand Voldemort pulled his wand.

Harry shuddered as his scar seared, the ache in his bones burned yet he hadn't heard Crucio cast.

"Her protection isn't gone. I'll always have it" Harry said defiantly. Rubbing the palm of his hand against his head.

"Severus perhaps you can enlighten your bond to the truth… "

Snape didn't move, no words worked their way from his lips. His grip on Potters arm tightened. He held the man tighter to his side. He sneered at Voldemort. He growled but still said nothing.

"As the cat seemed to have gotten your tongue I shall inform him on your behalf. I just assumed he would want to hear the words from the one who made the protection bond void… I see now why you are a pure Slytherin Severus. Not a brave bone in your body. Not like your courageous little Gryffindor."

Lord Voldemort moved closer so that he was a just few feet from them, "You completed a bond with another. Surly someone mentioned that you would be giving up one bond for another?" Voldemort stood up straighter, a slight smirk on his face, "No… I don't… suppose they did." He whispered loud enough for only Harry and himself to hear.

Tremors took over Harry's body. His knees bucked beneath him as he slid to the ground, a dry sob wrenched its way from his tightening chest. His mother love was gone. Replaced by Snapes…. Nothingness…. He had nothing left of his parents. His mothers love, her bond was the only thing that had kept him going on rotten days. It was thoughts of his parent that made him continue on with the battle against Voldemort. At times it was the only thing that kept him sane.

And now he had lost that and had replaced it with an empty bond. Had replaced it with Snape, a man who didn't even want him around.

Feeling empty and hallow Harry hung his head in his hands. This horrid bond he had been pushed into was meaningless…. He had lost his parents all over again, had lost the last part of himself.

But Voldemort didn't stop. He wanted the deepest pain, emotional pain he could possibly inflict upon the boy.

"Did you not tell him Severus, did you not tell your bond... your occasional lover that he would lose his mothers protection when he completed the bond with you. Did you tell him that her love would no longer keep him safe?"

Snape looked down at Harry who was now refusing to look at him. No he hadn't told him, it had been a fleeting thought that had crossed his mind when they had been in bed together but he had never told him. There had been too much to do, too much to complete before this moment, they were supposed to have more time then this.

"No," he murmured.

"Of course you didn't.... But you knew didn't you?" he didn't wait for Snape to respond, "Oh Harry Potter... the little boy no one loves.... Your motherly love and sacrifice is over, no love from your bond... I am right in that assumption, am I not Severus." He smirked standing straight like the powerful wizard he was letting the singsong tease slither off.

Snape looked down at Harry, the boy was slumped against one of the large rocks, his body trembling.

Snape's anger rose, this conversation had gone on far to long. Voldemort was mentally torturing Potter now and it was uncalled for. He was hitting the boy with words he knew would hurt the boy. He was toying with his prey.

Snape pulled his wand with a fury he had never known before. His hand was steady as he pointed it at the Dark Lord.

"Enough…" Snape growled.

"Put away your wand Severus." Voldemort scoffed, "My battle isn't with you…If your precious bond would stand then I will finish our game."

"No" Snape barked, "No" He reached down and hauled Potter to his feet.

The boy didn't protest he simply stared down at his hands, muttering to himself. "I should have fought it more. I am a fool to think... " He stopped, right, like anyone would want to hear him whining about his foolish heart. At least now he knew why Snape had ran from him everytime he tried to talk to him. At least he now knew his feelings would never be returned, he had his pathetic answers.

"Get a grip Potter… arm yourself." Snape shoved the boy's original wand back at him and pulled his own wand.

"…But Headmaster I am not done. I was going to tell Potter the story of his parent's death. Its such a pleasant tale..." Lord Voldemort grinned baring yellow teeth.

Snape ground his teeth, still gripping Potter's arm. Not taking his eyes off the greenish man before him.

But suddenly the Dark Lord stopped his maddening pacing. He paled, a snake like tongue darted forward and then he gasped and clutched his chest.

The air changed to a chill like Snape had never felt before. The sky darkened as clouds rushed toward them.

Several pops echoed behind him, Snape turned to see Death Eater apparating away. McGonagall slumped into the stone wall as her captor abandoned her.

For a moment he thought that reinforcements had arrived but he saw no new Ministry officials or Aurors.

He turned to his bond.

Harry stood before him like he had never seen before. His wand was pointed before him, he uttered no curse or hex, it was with sheer willpower that he cursed the Dark Lord before him.

Voldemort hissed and struggled to raise his own wand. "C-Cruci-o…" he stuttered, but it had no effect.

Snape reached out to pull Potter toward him but stopped midway. The boy was glowing darkly, his wand still positioned before him.

Voldemort fell to his knees still gasping, hissing, clutching his chest. He groaned in pain, his hands slithered over his body and he fell forward.

Snape was mesmerized as he watched the air sucked from the monsters lungs. Voldemorts body twisted, shriveling up. His skin wrinkled like a raisin. He watched the man clawing at the ground in an attempt to escape. It got him no where.

"NO," Harry shouted. His face contorted in pain, he began to tremble all over. Whimpering sounds riddled though the air.

"Potter…Harry," Snape whispered, scared to touch the boy.

But as suddenly as it began it was over. Voldemort didn't move, he was nothing but a shriveled prune, shrunken to not more then a foot long.

Harry turned to look at Snape, trembling he swallowed.

Snape thought he was going to say something, he took a step toward him.

Harry shook his head, he slumped to the ground. "You could have told me." he rasped, "You could have…" he shut his eyes and all was dark.

TBC