AN: Sorry for the long break between updates. I recently lost my cat and it's been really rough. I had him for 12 years and he was my baby. I really miss him.

Anyways, here is your next chapter.

Harry Potter and the Snake's Veil

Chapter 13: The Rescue

Snape crept into Grimmauld Place, hoping not to disturb anyone or anything. He ran a hand through his greasy locks. 'I need a shower,' he mused, 'and a decent meal, and a nice vacation home.' He approached the kitchen hoping she was here.

Upon entering, he could only utter, "Bugger."

Remus sat at the end of the table, looking as exhausted as Snape felt. Luckily, Tonks was seated next to him.

"Tonks, may I have a word?"

Remus turned his head. "What are you doing here so soon; where's Harry?"

"Not here. Tonks?"

"You only have a few days left…"

Snape tried ignoring the wolf. "Tonks?"

Tonks murmured something into Remus' ear before getting up and following Snape out.

Once out of earshot, he urgently asked her, "How well developed is your skill?"

Meanwhile, Voldemort had entered Harry's cell. He conjured up a chair and sat analyzing the teen as he slept.

Harry stirred from his sleep, sensing the Dark Lord's appearance. Struggling from fatigue, Harry managed to crawl forward into a makeshift bow. "My lord."

"My heir, it's been a while. I thought I had lost you. I believed that my plan had failed."

"Soon master, I will never leave your side."

"And the world will never know what hit them."

Tonks came down the stairs dressed in billowing black robes that were much too big for her. At the last step she tripped on the hem would have gone headfirst into the floorboards if Snape hadn't been standing there waiting for her. "Thanks," she said sheepishly.

Then, she closed her eyes in concentration. The eyes reopened. Turning to Snape, she asked, "Tell me again why you need me there? Am I really going to make that much of a difference?"

Snape sighed and began to explain it again. "To put it bluntly, I need you there to save my arse if trouble should arise."

Tonks opened her mouth to ask another question but a glare from Snape closed it immediately. Once again, Tonks closed her eyes and screwed up her face in concentration. Her hair, which was currently vivid purple, became platinum blonde and grew past her shoulders. He shoulder became broader and her chest flatter. Her nose thickened and her face widened. She filled into the clothing, the hem just hovering above the floor. When she opened her eyes they were a steel gray. She was the spitting image of Lucius Malfoy.

Snape handed her a voice alteration potion. "Just say the name of the person you wish to impersonate."

She drank it and said, "Lucius Malfoy." What came out of her lips was Malfoy's signature drawl. Turning to Snape she asked the question she was going to earlier, "Why couldn't I just take a Polyjuice Potion? In fact why didn't you pick someone else who is more skilled at fighting to take Polyjuice Potion, say Mad-Eye?"

Snape's eye twitched at the sound of Mad-Eye. "The Dark Lord can spot Polyjuice users; he however is not expecting a Metamorphmagus. And you currently don't wish to boil me in one of my own potions." Quickly moving on, he then pulled out two Death Eater masks, handing one to Tonks. "Put it on, we usually walk around with them since technically we're not supposed to know who's who in the club." He then pulled out a rusted scale. "The Dark Lord trusts me with a Port Key since I'm usually at Hogwarts. It will return us there." He offered Tonks the scale and she gripped one half of it. He pulled out his wand, tapping it, "Traicio."

Both of them were sucked inside.

Upon reaching the secluded room, Snape immediately set out, Tonks close behind. "Follow me: we need to get Potter and get out before some idiot tries to be a hero in the eyes of the Dark Lord. If we see anyone; let me do the talking."

Tonks looked around at everything. This place was huge and judging by the few glimpses she saw through the windows, the Aurors hadn't even been close when they raided supposed top Death Eater's home searching for You-Know-Who. Snape led her downstairs a few flights. They reached the basement. Snape was walking fasting, and Tonks was glad Lucius had longer legs than she. 'At least we haven't seen…'

"Hello there, what brings you here today? The Dark Lord doesn't like wanders in his home."

'Bugger,' Tonks thought glancing at Snape.

Snape pulled off his mask. "Avery, I believe it's none of your business to pry into what we are doing here. I believe we outrank you in several ways." Snape turned to Tonks and she too removed her mask.

Avery's face reddened slightly. "Sn…Snape, Luc…Lucius… I thought you too had other business to attend to today." Trying to gain some momentum, he said, "The Dark Lord told me…"

"We're going to the catacombs; I heard we caught some fresh Muggles to torture." Snape strode past, Tonks close behind, leaving Avery flustered behind. He replaced his mask and Tonks followed suit.

Snape led her down a few corridors before stopping and glancing around. He backtracked a few feet and took another fork.

Tonks stared at Snape, her eyebrows rising, "You do know where we are going, don't you?"

He stopped in the path, looking at her. The steely glint in his eye made her wish she hadn't asked that question. "Of course." He started walking again before she could question him any more. He finally stopped in front of a door and pushed the handle in. The door creaked open and he peered inside. "Stand guard," he murmured before entering the door.

So, Tonks waited for Snape to emerge with Harry. She was eager to see him returned to Hogwarts, maybe then Remus would lighten up and their relationship could move on. She heard muted words coming from inside the cell. It was really warm in this mask. She felt sweat rolling over face. What was taking Snape so long? "Hurry up Snape before someone notices. Avery might come back," she said peering around the corner. She couldn't see past Snape's form.

More muted words were exchanged. Tonks jumped at what sounded like footsteps. "Hurry up Snape!" she hissed.

"Stupefy!" Snape came out of the cell, a very thin and pale Harry cradled in his arms.

"Was that really necessary?"

"Unless you wanted him to blow us up."

Harry stirred in his sleep, slowly waking up. The lack of stone floor instantly woke him up. 'Perhaps the Dark Lord has forgiven me.' He felt his magic swirling around him as he rose in the bed. He still felt the aches and pains and his arm was still broken. He sniffed once, breathing in a mixture of rubbing alcohol and fresh linen. He wasn't at the mansion. He sniffed once more, his anger starting to swell.

"Potter, good to see you awake."

"You traitor to the Dark Lord. He will kill you when I tell him of your treachery!"

"Calm down Potter; you're safe. You're at Hogwarts."

"Traitor! Mudblood lover! Sin against your father!" Harry continued to yell.

Eyes narrowing, Snape retorted, "That's enough from you Potter, ungrateful brat. Quietus."

At that moment, Ron and Hermione walked into the Hospital Wing; Ron was nursing a particular bite. "Bloody Doxy. I can't believe Hagrid actually wanted us to care for them for a whole day. He's insane."

"I told you to be careful Ron," Hermione chided as Ron rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, Harry absorbed the spell. A cruel smile played on his lips. "My turn," he taunted. Snape could only gasp at the sudden change of events before he was thrown across the room, crashing into the curtains around Harry's bed before hitting the bed across the way. Hermione screamed.

Snape groaned and rolled over. Harry hovered over his bed, his eyeless gaze intent on Snape. "And now you die traitor…"

Time seem to slow down for Snape. There was nothing he could do. Harry was more powerful that the Dark Lord himself. As Snape awaited his death, the only thought that passed through his mind was, 'I was too late to save him.'

"Harry?"

Time seemed to catch up with Snape. He saw Harry recoil and no longer felt evil rolling off him. Harry sank back down to the bed. Snape pulled himself up, his wand pointed at Harry, in a futile attempt to appear he was in control of this situation. Visibly shaking, Harry turned his head toward his friends. Tears began streaking down his face from closed eyes.

"Ron, Hermione…" he whispered. He sank to his knees.

Hermione gasped at the visually different Harry while Ron muttered a "bloody hell."

"I'm so sorry," Harry muttered.

Hermione and Ron started to walk closer, but Snape deterred, "Keep back you two or I'll give you both so many detentions, you'll have to stay an extra year to finish them." He finished it with giving them a "I'll tell you later" look.

Both looked slightly confused and kept their distance.

Harry turned his attention back to Snape. "Where's Sirius?"

With a hint of confusion, Snape responded, "Not here Potter…"

"No, the Dark Lord brought him back, he promised… Sirius was in my cell… you left him there!"

Suddenly, a remaining link was finally connected. Snape didn't have the heart to tell him the truth. "He's away for a bit…" The lie faltered.

Harry choked back a sob. "I want my godfather." He waved his hand and the curtains righted themselves and enclosed him from the three prying eyes. He rolled over, tucked close together. He was back at Hogwarts and a traitor to the Order. Only Sirius understood his pains. As he cried into the blankets, Snape grabbed the two students and led them out of the Infirmary.

A few days later, Snape came back to Harry's bed. Now Harry was strapped down to the bed and given a magical sedative to prevent any more lashing outs. Pomfrey had healed his arm although it still remained sore from its constant breakings.

"Potter, I have a potion that will kill the snake that's growing inside you. You need to let Madam Pomfrey give it to you twice everyday. Understand?"

"Traitor. The Dark Lord will learn of your falsities. You're too late already, it will be here soon and the Dark Lord's heir will return to his master."

Pushing past his own insecurities on the matter, Snape said, "I highly doubt that." Harry laughed and Snape was struck just how foreboding it seemed compared to the Dark Lord's. Knowing Harry wouldn't drink it, he covered Harry's nose and forced the potion down. Harry struggled against the hands but eventually drank it. Once Snape was satisfied that the potion was all gone he removed his hands.

Harry gasped and sucked in air. "No more potions… please…" he whimpered as the potion sent icy sharp pangs throughout his body. He needed warmth. It needed warmth.

Snape frowned. "I'm sorry Potter." He was weary himself; the Order still didn't trust him, Voldemort was losing his trust, he was tired of talking to the two Harrys, and his back ached. "I'm sorry," he repeated before leaving Harry.

"He shouldn't be moved McGonagall. It's too dangerous…"

"He's too dangerous Severus, Granger and Weasley told me what happened, I see how much pain you're still in…"

"It is nothing in comparison to what the Dark Lord has wrought upon me. He knows every single spy among his ranks and I'm the only one left…"

"Then leave if you're so worried about your own life, who's stopping you? In the meantime, I refuse to put my students in danger."

"Death is the only way out…"

"Then you should have asked the Order what to do that didn't involve you."

"They want me dead!"

Harry sat quiet behind his curtains. He was too tired and too weak to do much anyways. He had to conserve the little energy he had.

"We're moving him to Grimmauld Place; then the Order can keep an eye on him."

"You might as well just hand him to the Dark Lord. He's safer here."

"Not with Albus lying…" McGonagall sniffed, "…dead."

Harry's head perked up. The memories that seemed so long ago began replaying in his head. Halloween. Dumbledore.

Harry began reeling in the bits of strength he had. The bands around his arms and legs slipped off and he pulled himself to his feet. He willed himself to walk. The teachers were off in the corner and didn't notice him leaving until the door shut behind him.

He imagined the halls of Hogwarts in his minds and followed the path down the corridors to the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. He held out his arm and forced the statue to move.

"Potter!" McGonagall called out. He ignored her and stepped onto the moving spiral staircase. Turning to Snape, she exclaimed, "He means to kill Albus!" They followed him up the stairs.

Harry watched as the steps took him past the office door with the griffin knocker to Dumbledore's personal room just above it. The door clicked open and Harry walked inside. He went to the bed and stood over the headmaster. Fawkes cooed on his perch.

Snape and McGonagall entered the room, wands raised. "Potter step back," Snape warned.

"Excieo," Harry said to the sleeping headmaster before crumpling to the ground in exhaustion.

Dumbledore's eyes twitched before opening. He sat up and looked around. The two professors dropped their wands in shock. "I feel like I've taken the longest nap." He stared at the two, "Seems I need to be filled in."

-Anaticulapraecantrix