Hey there! I'm back in school (sob). Unfortunately, homework has been constant so it's hard to find writing time, but I manage! Without further ado, chapter 20!
Dumbledore Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own Harry Potter. What's that you say, dear child? You think I should? Ah, too kind, too kind. I am not worthy. Lemon drop?
It Ends Now
Part 20: "Traitor Revealed: Part 2"
Minutes later, Severus was sweeping down to the basement. As usual, Severus had received his daily Crucio before being given permission to torture Potter "senseless, until he revealed the Prophecy", as according to Voldemort. Now was his chance. He would set Potter free and give the boy time to run for it; hopefully through that route of action it would be sparing Severus discovery, now that Voldemort's faith in him was renewed. If not, everything would be ruined.
Severus felt his robes for the lump that was a numbing potion. It would work for one hour and give Potter enough time for a getaway and escape without his injuries slowing him down. The Potions Master knew there would probably be a plethora.
Good. It was still there.
The basement door appeared in his line of vision, and Severus took a moment to brace himself for the unknown. He had no clue what lay ahead or what state Potter was in.
He pushed open the door.
The first thing that hit him was the putrid smell. The stench of must, rotting flesh, dried and fresh blood, and human waste mingled in the already unclean air, attacking the senses with such magnitude that it made one's eyes water and immediately grasp their noise to plug it and be rid of the foul malodor perverting their oxygen.
Carefully descending the stairs and walking further into the darkness, Severus felt the chill of the dementor guard in the air from the sudden plummet of the temperature. He ignored the memories of worser times playing hauntingly in his head; the boy was his goal and that mission pulled him on like a lifeboat in turbulent waters.
And that was when he saw him, lying almost dead and barely lucid through the bars of a cell that should only be meant for wild, dangerous animals.
'No creature should EVER be subject to this,' was the first thought that came to Severus' mind as he observed the broken form of Harry Potter, his most hated student.
A rattling intake of foul breath behind Severus alerted him to the dementor's presence and close proximity.
"Expecto Partonum!" His pearly white partonus, a beady-eyed raven, flew at the dementor, hissing, claws outstretched and eyes sending daggers of doom. With a screech and swipe, it banished the Dark Creature.
Severus whispered the unlocking spell and the bars slid open smoothly. The boy looked even worse up close. Potter's eyes opened a fraction of an inch, as if they had just been squeezed shut in terror, and the Potions Master hissed in a surprised breath at what he saw in those glazed depths- pure nothing. The-Boy-Who-Loved, loved no more. All emotions had been swept away and now his soul looked as dead as if a dementor had stolen its previous life and vibrance away. But then, thankfully, recognition entered those green orbs, and hope, as Snape removed his mask and hood for the teen.
"It's me, Potter."
"P'fessor Snape?" the boy mumbled, and Severus felt his heart twinge just a little bit as the injury-worn 16-year-old tried and failed to sit up. "Why di'n't you come soon'r?"
Now that was a guilt catcher in the gut. Way to make a guy feel like crap.
As Severus looked over Potter, his stony cold resolve melted, if only for that moment. The thing was shivering with cold, whether he noticed it or not from all the pain he must be feeling. And his body was marred, past recognition, every inch, by gashes, burns, slits, fissures, incisions, and more, all oozing blood. Congealed and fresh, there was so much of it. It made Snape's stomach queasy at the sight, because never had he seen so much. All the pain that child went through, and Severus had just been slouched at his fireplace. That thought hit the man like a ton of bricks. No matter his hate, this was just a boy. A boy approaching manhood, but a boy nonethless.
"I couldn't. No one knew where you were and I was not called immediately when the other Death Eaters were. I only just arrived at the Dark Lord's beckon. I believe someone may have tipped me off about the spying duty and I am suspected of traitory," the greasy Potions master explained in a low voice. He decided to leave out the fact that his name had just been cleared, and that it was Lucius Malfoy who had been the informant. This was not a time for chit-chat over tea and crumpets. It was time for Potter to escape this hellhole.
Wasting no time, Severus pulled out the numbing potion and gave it to the weak boy, instructing him on its usage and how he had to get away from this place. Harry downed it and immediately looked much more coherent, and human. The eyes became that of the Boy-Who-Lived once more, full of strength and determination, rather than those of a stranger's.
"What now?" he questioned.
"I need you to scream for me."
"W-what? Why?"
"Idiot!" Snape growled. "I am supposed to be torturing you at the moment! Now, if you do not start screaming I will GIVE you a reason to, boy!" Gods, the child could be dense! This was no time to question authority! The pity turned to anger, as was usual in the case of Harry Potter. Anger and loathing just always seemed to fire up whenever he saw James Potter's son. Maybe it was just simply because Harry looked so much like his father, so when he flamed him with insults, it was like doing it to James. But the eyes- Lily's eyes- they were what made Severus stop. They were so intense and bore into a person's soul with the emotions they held.
Potter obliged instantly, screaming until Snape halted him. Then he stood and with an urgent air, the man grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the cell.
"I'm going back up. Be quiet until someones sees you, which they undoubtedly will, then make a run for it. I'm not giving much hope that you will indeed find the exit, but you must try and get out. They are going to kill you soon; Voldemort has grown tired of your unresponsiveness to the torture."
And then he left the boy, praying to the fates that Potter would be able to escape this funhouse.
Once a few corridors away, Severus let out a breath and leaned against the wall, gathering his wits. It had been hard, seeing Potter like that. Potter had always seemed so invincible. But seeing him like a frightened, cowering, abused child... it was affecting. Now it would be doubly hard keeping up his cruel act in class to the boy. Because whenever he looked at Harry again, he would see the scared, battered little boy who needed him but was failed by the Potions Master. The guilt was unbearable. He should have done something sooner; anything!
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, loud and clear. "HE'S ESCAPED! HE GOT OUT! POTTER ESCAPED!"
Severus choked, breath catching. Oh no. Potter was as good as dead now; he would surely be caught.
'Not if I can do something about it!' The other side of Snape's brain cried, and Severus shot off like a rocket, all the while using a tracking spell that would lead him in Potter's direction. He began sealing doors as he went- hopefully that would buy some time away from approaching Death Eaters.
"Colloportus! Colloportus! Colloportus!"
The din of racing Death Eaters from all directions was like a stampede; the sound of explosions, unbearable, coming from all over as people broke through the barriers with mostly imploding spells like Reducto.
Then came the next exclamation concerning Potter. "WE'VE GOT HIM IN THE ENTRANCE HALL!"
Whatever direction that was in. But hope leapt up in Severus Snape as he almost did a whoop of joy. Harry was so close to the exit... so close...
But it was not meant to be.
Not even twenty or so minutes later, a stunned Harry Potter was being magicked back up into the house again as Snape and all the other jeering Death Eaters looked on. He had been so close; so close to freedom!
"The little brat tried to escape, but it won't be happening again. I want heightened security around his cell! Now! Put the thing back in its cage," Voldemort ordered in a most nasty voice. The cold fury made his voice shiver. "That overlooked blunder almost lost us the most threatening thing to our whole existence!"
Murmuring was exchanged as Harry was floated away and Death Eaters pondered over how the Boy-Who-Lived could have possibly escaped with all his wounds. It was a mystery to all.
All but one, not including Severus.
Lucius Malfoy was eying the said man suspiciously, a knowing, yet furious look within his cold, gray orbs. He knew.
Snape swallowed, but returned the stare just as intensely, not looking away. To do so would have been cowardly, not to mention a total giveaway. So he matched Lucius boldly, look for look. As if saying, Just Try Me. Voldemort believed in Severus' genuinity, and that was all that really mattered in this dictatorship.
Lucius scowled and broke eye contact, haughtily swishing his robes as he turned away and limped out of sight. Evidently, he had already received his "punishment" for false information, if that and the just barely noticable incisions on his arms and legs were any indication.
Severus skulked off too, trying to think upon Plan B now that the first idea had failed miserably. And whatever he chose had to be quick, because Potter probably wouldn't live the night out, if the impatient Dark Lord had any say. No needed information meant no mercy, and Potter had crossed that line. It was evident to all he simply wouldn't give in. In a way, and though he'd never say it aloud, Severus admired that trait in the boy.
Snape found he had wandered into a lone, dimly lit corridor. Before any formulated thoughts crossed his mind, Severus felt a sudden burning on his chest. The man's fingers scrambled for a simple string necklace hung round his neck, hidden subtly beneath his night colored robes. His hands brought out a small, shiny red orb that hung like a locket off the string. It was glowing, and hot to the touch. Severus squeezed the small, crimson pearl and muttered,
"Phoenix Tear."
The tiny amber ball made a small fizzing noise, then the quiet voice of Albus Dumbledore spoke:
"Severus?"
"I'm here," Snape responded, just as low.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, for now."
"Harry?"
Severus swallowed before replying. "He's... not good, Albus. I don't know what torture they've inflicted upon him but the boy's barely recognizable. I gave him a numbing potion and he almost escaped this maze of a mansion, but was caught. Voldemort is making plans to kill him tonight, I believe."
The other end was silent for a moment, then, "Do you know where you are? Voldemort's headquarters, I mean."
"No. I haven't been allowed out and probably wouldn't recognize the landscape anyways. No name has been given as of yet; it is highly disclosed," the Potions master explained.
Albus sighed through the transmission device made specifically for this mission. "I'm guessing Harry is now being closely guarded?"
Severus made a noncommital noise equivalent to 'Mm-hmm.'
Another sigh.
"I didn't want it to come to this, but to save Harry's life, we must. Severus, I'm asking you to give up your spying duties."
"But, but Albus! How will we get information from Voldemort? About his plans?" Snape spluttered in protest.
"There will be no point if Harry dies. The fate of this war depends on Harry's choice and actions," Dumbledore said in a somber tone. He sounded weary-worn.
Severus chewed his lip, brain whirling and formulating. "What do you want me to do?"
"You must risk exposure. Rescue Harry. Portkey him out of there. Do whatever it takes."
"I sensed a portkey barrier all around the basement where he's being kept. Apparition barriers are all around the house as well, so portkeying him out is our best bet. I'll have to get him out and past the guards and other Death Eaters before we could get to safety," Severus thought aloud.
"Whatever it takes, Severus, "Albus repeated. "Please, just get Harry back to Hogwarts alive."
"I'll do my best, Albus," the man swore.
"I'm counting on you, dear boy."
Then the connection was cut.
Tucking the device into his robes once more, Severus Snape turned and came face-to-face with none other than Lucius Malfoy.
"Well, well, well. I think I have all the information I need for the Dark Lord, traitor," the blonde aristocrat sneered. "Have fun in hell."
"Not before you go there first!"
And without thinking, Severus let his fist fly back and he punched Lucius hard, right in the face. Blood spurted everywhere from Malfoy's broken nose, and the man let out an incomprehensible exclaimation as his hand flew up to his stinging face. Immediately, his hands went dark red as the blood stained them and continued to run from his face like water.
Another punch, right in the gut, sent Lucius flying straight into the wall. With a sickening crack, he went unconscious and suck down the wall and to the ground, blood still running profusely, now down the side of his face, through his hair, and into a puddle forming on the floor.
"Good riddance," Severus breathed, eyes alight from the excitement of combat and being able to punch the lights out of his betrayer. Then he was off, in the direction of the basement.
oOo
Severus stood before the door that led to the prison room, preparing himself. What lay ahead was up to fate now. He could die. If he was caught, then his traitory would be made clear and the inevitable slow death and torture that would follow would be horrible, ghastly, and agonizing. On the optimistic side, he could live, escaping with Potter. But Severus tired not to think of either, because this was it, and worrying would only hinder his progress. He just kept his mind on the promise to Dumbledore and resigned himself to destiny.
Tapping his head, the Potions Master disillusioned himself and pushed open the door as noiselessly as possible. Entering the black abyss, Severus found his footing and tiptoed down the stairs. Fortunately, it creaked only once. Ahead, he could just barely make out two figures standing at the locked entrance to the cell. Snape sensed Harry's weak presence further in, but in the dark was unable to see him.
"Stupefy," Snape whispered, and a flash of red light shot from his wand and knocked one guard unconscious instantly. The second reacted immediately, going into fighting stance.
"Who's there?" his young voice demanded from beneath the hood, and not without a trace of fear over the invisible intruder. "Stupefy!"
Severus sidestepped the badly-aimed curse that had been aimed in his general direction. Just as another spell was on the Death Eater's lips, Severus sent a Silencio his way, and the spell hit dead on. The young robe clad man mouthed wordlessly.
Severus inched around the silently blubbering man and muttered, "Alohomora." The bars refused to budge though. 'Damn', Severus thought, trying a few complicated unlocking spells until at last one opened the lock and slid free the bars.
Suddenly, the watchful but silent Death Eater saw the movement and sent a slashing curse that had been used on Hermione in the Department of Mysteries fifth year. Given Snape's disillusionment, it was not aimed properly and only sliced Snape's shoulder just so. Nevertheless, the small incision drew blood, which would be visible and unreactive to the Disillusionment Charm.
"Dammit!" Severus cursed, and when the Death Eater sent "Impediamenta!", Severus instantly conjured a shield spell. The curse meant for him rebounded back at the mute minion of Voldemort, and he flew into the stone wall and was knocked out.
Severus rushed into the cell and cancelled the charm so Harry could see him. The boy was up against the wall and had been regarding the scene playing out before him, frightened yet having an inkling that it was Snape, which proved correct. He was shaking, looking worse for wear and as bad- no, worse, for more torture had been inflicted upon him for his previous escape attempt- as Snape had first seen him, however a bit more coherent and aware of the situation. Whether this was due to lingering affects of the potion, Snape's own presence, or what, the Potions brewer was unsure.
"Professor Snape!" Harry gasped, relief evident in his voice. "I tried; I almost got away but Voldemort-"
"I know, Potter," Severus cut in hurriedly. "I'm here to get you away myself. Don't get too hopeful, we cannot escape until beyond the barrier." He began searching for something, anything to use as a portkey. They had to get away, now. If anyone came down, it was all over. But the boy seemed intent on protesting.
"But... but your spying duties! You could be caught!"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Snape ground out in impateience, irritated as no suitable portkey tool appeared. Damn this dark! Meanwhile, Harry processed the comment with disbelief. Snape actually wanted to save him? He'd actually do all this, even risk capture, just to save him?
"Got it!" Severus produced a small chunk of stone wall that looked very much like a small rock. "This will be our portkey. I cannot activate it until outside the basement."
"I-" a sudden coughing fit overtook the boy, and Harry began spatting blood, hands futilely over his mouth to try and keep in the coppery tasting liquid so vital to him right now.
"Potter?"
Crimson, a lot of it, began staining the floor. Harry tried to stall his fit and speak again, but it was fruitless.
"Potter?"
Severus was at his side at once, afraid for his health. The boy was paling rapidly, and seemed unable to quell his hacking. A little bubble of blood formed at Potter's mouth and burst, drooling down his chin.
"I... (hack)...think...internal...(cough)..." was all Harry managed, fighting for control.
Severus understood what Potter was trying to get across. He was bleeding internally, and badly. No surprise, considering the torture he'd been through.
"I'm getting you out of here, now," Severus said, pulling Harry to his feet. But the 16-year-old sagged against him, unable to hold his weight up.
"Sorry...can't..." he gasped, clutching at Snape's robes desperately. Suddenly, his eyes grew alarmingly wide and frightened at something behind Severus.
"Behind you!"
CRACK!
Stars danced before Severus' eyes as a large object slammed down on his head. Dizzily, he turned slightly and saw the first Death Eater guard, revived, a large bat in hand. He transfigured it back into his wand and swished it in an arc, shouting,
"IMPEDIAMENTA!"
Severus was too dazed to react. He and Harry were blasted into the wall, Harry getting the full impact of it because he'd been behind Severus. The man was forcefully slammed into the poor boy.
"Potter!"
Harry's body slumped in his; he'd blacked out again.
"So it was you, traitor," the grizzly Death Eater snarled, spitting out the word in hateful distaste. Evidently, the stunning spell had worn off. "Sectumsepra!"
A bright flash of purple flew from the offending wand and Severus, arms full of Harry, was unable to move, Turning, he protected Harry with his body and hissed in pain as the slashing curse whipped his back. The open wound throbbed like a Crucio.
"SEVERUS SNAPE IS RESCUING POTTER!" the brown haired Death Eater yelled, raising the alarm.
"Stupefy!"
"Protego!"
Severus scooped up the limp Harry into his arms and moved away from his own reflected spell. It was hard dueling with a hundred some odd pounds of Harry Potter clutched lifelessly in your arms. The red curse hit the wall instead, sending debris everywhere and leaving a sizable crater.
The Death Eater covered his face as rocks flew at him. Severus took this opportunity and lunged, and, taken unawares, the man tackled the Death Eater and shoved him to the ground. Above, the sound of running was heard for the second time that day. There was no time to lose.
"STUPEFY!"
The Death Eater was knocked unconscious again. But he was a strong one; no doubt the curse wouldn't last for long. That theory had already been proven. Severus Snape tore off toward the stairs; heart pounding, robes flying, and running faster than he ever had his whole life. Only one thought raced through his mind: Get Potter to safety.
The door opening was near, and luckily, the oncoming Death Eaters hadn't reached this hall yet.
Severus bolted through the opening where he'd left the door open. He retrieved the wall piece unbelievably fast and tapped it.
"Portus!"
Then the door to the hallway was flung open, and framed in the doorway was none other than Lord Voldemort. Rage- no, pure fury- burning in his eyes, robes askew and wand in hand. While Harry was sometimes able to see why Dumbledore was proclaimed as the Most Powerful Wizard of the Age, Severus could now see why Voldemort was hailed as the Darkest. Waves of terrible anger radiated off the creature, and his face was lined with such hate that the man looked like a terrifying, all-power weilding god. No mercy was found in those red depths. If looks could kill, Severus would be decomposing in his grave right now.
It was a race against time, for the portkey started activating just as the spells started flying and the Death Eaters charging. Voldemort was at the lead. In a horrible, rumbling, resounding, frozen cold voice, he shouted:
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
One...
The green light escaped the wand and flew in for the kill. Time seemed to freeze, except for that deadly curse as it homed in, almost in slow motion, on the traitor.
Two...
Severus could feel himself freeze up in terror as the green encompased his whole vision; whole being. He could see nothing but that bright, bright green light that whisked away all clarity...
Three.
A/N: Mwhahaha! I do believe that was the evilest cliffy yet! Reviews are oxygen to me; I need them to keep writing and they encourage me so much that people really do like my story. One thing you're probably all thinking is, Why hasn't Harry used the protering yet? Simple. It doesn't work. The house is protected, as we know from Snape, by anti-apparition wards. Therefore, since the protering uses a form of apparition when summoning Dumbledore, it cannot work. It would outside the grounds, but considering what Harry was doing while outside, I highly doubt he was thinking of the protering. I kinda think he was more focusing on the stampede of Death Eaters behind him ;-) Snape's does because it was created specifically for communication purposes only and with the wards in mind. No apparition is needed.
Stay tuned! Next chapter is "Aftermath": What's happened to Snape? And Harry? Are they alive? Or will the portkey be bringing back only one alive user?
REPLIES TO REVIEWS:
darkmarkgirl: You're quite good at theorizing correctly, you know that? It's like you read my mind (or more precisely, the next chapter details!). Great job at guessing correctly at all the elements you mentioned and thank you so much for the compliments! I aim to please :-) Oh, and thanx for your second review too!
Hermionegirl4ever: Thanks. And I love getting such lovely reviews each time! Most definitely not slashy! Ugh! Yucky :-) Just interactions between the two, as you can see. About Harry dying: Well, not yet at least... mwhahahaha (see her plotting over her It Ends Now plotline). :-D Tee hee! But seriously, I'm not gonna. Where would the story go if I did kill him now? Thanks again for such an awesome review and keep 'um coming!
lilacBookstar: Don't worry, he will be. I'm so glad you like my story so much and I look foward to hopefully getting more reviews from you! You're so sweet :-)
Haunted: I will try and update soon for ya! Thank you so much for the great review and you rock! Love your PMs as well. (huggles!)
#1harryginnyfan: Hopefully this chapter satisfied your needs, and sorry for the evil evil cliffy. But here's what happened after the grave part :-) Hopefully it was exciting enough; I tried to get a good amount of fighting in. Can't wait to read your next review and thanks for the totally awesome review!
TwilightsCalling: I love you! (not literally, lol). OMG, I look foward to your emails everyday cuz it's just soooo much fun to write with ya! And I love your reviews! They make me laugh. Hopefully you liked this chapter, and I'm sure you'll let me know :-D (laughs feverishly at the prospect of more reviews and emails). Mwhahahaha... oh! And thanks for sending this to your friend! I'm so honored! Obsessed Harry Potter fans forever :-D
Baldur: Thank you Thank you Thank you! I promise I'll try and update the next chappy ASAP and I'm glad you like this story so much! I look foward to more reviews from ya!
XForestxAngelX: Thanks! What a nice review. I hope to hear from you more ;-) I'll try and update ASAP!
raven2547: Yay indeed! I finally posted! Thanx!
Gabwr: That's OK. Same with me! School is making it soooo hard to type. I liked it too! Hope you enjoy this chappy ;-)
Naquadria: Thanks so much! I'm such a stickler for perfection in my stories, can you tell? Especially for vocabulary! Yes, another cliffy! Mwhahahaha! I'd say this fic is gonna have at least 30 chapters, but for some reason I just keep getting more and more ideas and so the number of chapters just keep rising! I'm at about 36 chapter ideas, if you wanna get specific!
Dumbledore Prince: Thanks- that's OK! I did too about the last sentence! I didn't mean to stop it there, but I just did. I was wondering if someone would find that amusing. Probably he was a little, though I didn't mean it to be so. Anyways, thanks so much for sticking with me and hope this chapter is to your liking! And your stories are quite good too.
Aisha-ladimoon: I was wondering where you went! Missed ya! Welcome back! Great review, and that was perfectly alright. I really do love trauma, I'm sure you can see that, and thanks again! Enjoy! Oh, and hope you update your fic soon cuz I love love love it!
And there ya go! Please review, dear fans and readers, and I shall try and update ASAP!
Love,
AngelMoon Girl
Wielder of the Almighty Pen :-)