Previously
Finally, the next Chapter – sorry for the delay. Real life is such a bore!
Welcome to Autumn-371, clammydaspikeclam, Mother of Tears, jechma, Aridnarie and heaven shadow. Thank you for adding this to your Story Alert/Favorite story selection. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Whitehound – Normally, the only person (or thing) that gets to hurt Snape's students is Snape himself. It's in his contract!
Duj–Mallinovich isn't incompetent. I am - for misspelling Adava Kedavra.
Robyn Hawkes – The answer to your question is below, but Snape doesn't have to like himself for it.
Silverthreads - He knows Snape better than appeared in the last chapter but still not well enough! Read on to find out why.
Now – on to the story.
Previously
Severus briefly considered a physical attack but decided against it. The man had his wand at the ready and there were probably other Aurors' just outside. Instead, he shrugged.
"Get on with it then, or are you going to waste time gloating, like some storybook villain?" he sneered back.
"Oh, I'm not going to interrogate you." Savage returned. "I think you'll take quite a while to break. I suspect you're much more likely to respond if you watch someone else undergoing it."
He turned his wand towards the small form of Dennis Creevey.
"Crucio!" he shouted.
Creevey screamed once before his body began writhing.
Chapter 21
Severus held the trembling body of Dennis Creevey in his arms, feeling a deep sense of inadequacy. He had no doubts that, given the stakes involved, had Minerva McGonagall or Albus Dumbledore been in the same position they would acted as he had done. They, however, would have been so much better at comforting a former pupil who had suffered and was continuing to suffer because of their refusal to speak. This wasn't the same as watching Charity Burbage being tortured and murdered. There, he had not been the direct cause of her suffering and he had not been left to pick up the pieces afterwards.
The 'interrogation' had gone as he had expected it would. Savage had enjoyed himself, knowing exactly when to stop before the agony caused Creevey to slip into unconsciousness and allowing him just enough time to recover so the next bout was as painful as the first. During the entire time, Severus had felt the pressure of another mind on his Occlumency shields. He had realised that the torture of the young man hadn't been intended to force him to reveal the address of Grimmauld Place, just to provoke a sufficiently strong emotional reaction to allow their Legilimens to tear the information from his mind.
They had not succeeded and Savage had finally tired, stamping out of the cell after threatening to return once he had rested. As soon as the door had slammed shut behind him, Severus had gone over to Creevey and sat beside him, wondering what he should do now. The young man had opened his eyes for a moment.
"Did I do all right, Sir?" he'd asked.
Severus hadn't known how to respond; finally he'd given an answer he'd hoped the young Gryffindor would appreciate.
"You were very brave." He'd replied before taking the boy into a clumsy embrace.
In response to the words, Creevey had drawn his lips back in what might have been a smile, taken a ragged breath and then closed his eyes. He might have been dead except for the thump-thump of his rapidly beating heart against Severus' own chest.
Now, he sat waiting to see what would happen next.
Severus hoped that Creevey's sacrifice would be enough to protect Grimmauld Place but the sheer number of people who had become Secret Keepers after Dumbledore's death meant the power of the Fidelius Charm had been seriously diluted. It might still be possible for the Ministry, with time and effort, to break not only that spell but the one making it Unplottable. He could only hope that the Order had not allowed his and Creevey's capture to divert them from the important task of getting the International Confederation of Wizards Inspection Team into Azkaban as quickly as possible and that Finch-Fletchley had overheard enough to warn Minerva of the threat to Grimmauld Place. In the meantime, escape was impossible so he and Creevey could only wait and try to hold out until the game was played out for good or ill.
Soft footsteps sounded in the corridor outside and Severus tensed, his arms unconsciously tightening around Dennis Creevey. Savage and his cohorts must be returning! Then he frowned, the footsteps did not have the loud, confident sound of someone carrying out an official duty, they were light, stealthy, almost furtive. Severus felt the touch of subtle magic brush against his senses; then the door opened a crack. He remained still, waiting to see what this new development indicated. Then the door was thrown open and he saw three red headed and one dark haired men standing in the doorway.
He stared at them in shock. This was a development he hadn't anticipated. Percy Weasley put his finger to his lips to indicate silence but the warning was unnecessary. Then, after an anxious glance along the corridor he indicated that they should leave the cell and follow them.
Severus rose with difficulty, careful not to disturb Creevey who was still cradled in his arms. Potter offered to take the young man from him but he shook his head firmly. Creevey was his responsibility until they were safe and he could receive medical assistance.
George Weasley set off along the corridor, heading not towards the exit, but deeper into the cellblock. Behind him was his brother, Ron. Severus fell in behind the younger Weasley with Percy behind him and Potter at the rear. All of them had their wands out and at the ready.
A terrible thought came to Severus and he opened his mouth to speak. "How…?" he began.
In a gesture he hadn't believed the older Weasley capable of, Percy grabbed his former teacher and put his hand firmly over Severus' mouth, frowning and gesturing urgently for silence. Severus decided to hold off asking the question until later.
Deeper and deeper they went into the cell-block, their surroundings becoming more and more rundown and derelict. Severus noticed that the corridor along which they walked seemed to be slopping down. The torches on the walls were set further and further apart until they disappeared entirely and the Weasley's and Potter had to light the tips of their wands in order to see where they were going. The floor became rough and uneven and felt slimy under his feet. He almost dropped Creevey several times after stumbling on the treacherous surface. Finally, George stopped and turned to grin at Severus. He looked around. They were in an area that, from the look of it, hadn't been used since the Middle Ages. Cell doors stood at drunken angles where they had fallen from their hinges. The cells themselves were smaller, darker and more noisome than any he had ever seen or experienced before, even in Azkaban.
"Sorry about that." George said cheerfully. "We countered the Caterwauling Charm the Ministry had set on the cell block corridors but we didn't know what other security precautions they'd put in place so we thought it better to be safe than sorry. We should be OK now. No-one's been this deep into the dungeons in years."
"Mr. Weasley, what task did I give you when I put you in detention for sabotaging my Potions lesson in your Second Year?" Severus rapped out.
George's grin widened. "Oh, you think we could be using Polyjuice Potion to impersonate ourselves. I commend your caution, Professor. But a lot of people know you made me and Fred disembowel a barrel full of horned toads - three Saturdays in a row if I recall. We boasted about it afterwards! Ask something else."
He stood waiting expectantly.
'It must be George,' Severus thought, 'No-one could impersonate his infernal cheek!' Nevertheless, he had to be absolutely certain. He turned to Potter. He didn't want to ask the question, the whole subject was too personal, but the answer was one only Potter would know.
"Mr. Potter, when we were alone in the Weasley's shed after the party, what was the first word I said when I came round?"
Potter looked at him.
"You said my mother's name." he replied quietly. "You said 'Lily'. I think, for a moment, you thought I was her. I asked if you would tell me about her. I don't think you wanted to but you eventually said you would."
Severus nodded. "Thank you. I am satisfied you are who you appear to be." He quickly changed the subject. "How did you get in?"
George crooked a finger and Severus followed him into one of the cells, the others crowding in after. He watched as George rapped his wand against the far wall in some sort of sequence. The stones quivered and moved until a small archway appeared where there had previously been a solid wall.
George stood back to admire his handiwork. "Fred and I found this by accident years ago. We always thought it would come in useful but this is the first time we've actually used it." he observed. "Come on."
He led them through the archway and up an ancient flight of stone steps. As Potter passed through the arch, Severus heard a loud grinding noise and half-turned. The opening was closing behind them.
Up and up they went, Creevey's still body beginning to weigh heavier and heavier in Severus' arms. At the top of the stairs the stone walls and roof disappeared to be replaced by heavy oak, the walls curving outwards to meet up with an arched roof, giving the impression they were inside an extremely large barrel. George pushed against the wooden partition that blocked their way and it creaked open. Severus stepped through, looking about him in amazement.
"We're in the cellar of 'The Leaky Cauldron'." George explained.
Severus turned to look in the direction they had come and saw that he had just walked out of what actually was, or appeared to be, a barrel.
"Fred and I were nine." George continued. "Percy was due to go off to Hogwarts for the first time the following day and Mum had some last minute shopping to do, so we stayed here for the night. Mum was fussing over Percy and we got bored and decided to go exploring. We ended up down here and thought we'd try the beer.… We were going to leave some money on the bar to pay for it." He added hastily "Anyway, we found this barrel. At first we couldn't get into it and that really piqued our curiosity so we kept trying. Well, we were ingenious, even at that tender age. It took a long time but it eventually yielded to our ministrations. The rest, as they say, is history."
"If only you had displayed the same dedication towards your schoolwork, Mr. Weasley." Severus remarked dryly.
George smiled, serenely. "I prefer to think that, in life, practical skills are more important than academic qualifications." he replied.
"Anyway," Potter interrupted. "We can Apparate from here to Grimmauld Place. The house is being watched so our target is the top step outside the front door. That means we'll have to go in small groups. I'll go first, taking you and Dennis Side-Along. The others will follow."
Severus nodded. It was embarrassing having to be carried like a child but without a wand, it was the only option. He lightly gripped Potter's arm.
"On the count of three, Professor... One...two...three." They turned and vanished.
Severus stood outside the door of the room where Madame Pomfrey was examining Dennis Creevey. The Apparition had been successful and all members of the rescue party had returned to Grimmauld Place safely. The house was no longer the dismal and neglected mansion of the Black family, nor the bright and pleasant home of the Potter's. In fact, it resembled a cross between a military hospital, a children's home and the headquarters of a guerrilla army. Every room was overflowing with casualties from the Battle of Azkaban while the children of Order members, played quietly in the corridors and on the stairs, clearly affected by the tension they felt from their parents, who rushed around, wands in hand or tucked in their waistbands for easy reach in an emergency.
Tonks approached him. "Excuse me Severus, but Professor McGonagall is fire-calling from Azkaban. She wants to speak to you."
He glanced towards the closed door and was relieved when it opened and Poppy Pomfrey walked out. "Mr. Creevey is very weak but he'll be fine." She reported. "He needs rest so I've given him a Potion to help him sleep."
Severus nodded stiffly and turned to follow Tonks downstairs, narrowly avoiding crashing into the ten year old Teddy Lupin as he rushed up to hug his mother.
He walked into the drawing room where Minerva's face hung suspended in the green flames of the fireplace. A number of Order members, including Potter and George Weasley hung around, talking to each other quietly. True to form, Professor McGonagall wasted no time in coming to the point.
"Glad you're back with Severus. The ICW Inspection Team is due to arrive here in two hours time. Blame the usual bureaucracy for the delay. Hermione and Arthur report that they can't believe what they've been told. The Ministry is aware of their arrival time so we expect them to try one last desperate throw of the dice. We've secured Azkaban and we're prepared to defend it until the ICW arrive. I've spoken with Harry and we've agreed that you're the best person to lead the defence of Grimmauld Place if that proves necessary. Good luck..."
Her face disappeared and the flames died down.
Severus stared into the now empty fireplace for a long moment. 'How can I lead when I don't even have a wand?' he thought, irritably. 'If it comes to a fight, I'll be useless!'
A familiar voice spoke from behind him and he realised that Poppy had followed him downstairs.
"Severus, I've been waiting for the right moment to give you this."
He turned and took the long, narrow, wooden box the Hogwarts Matron offered him.
He opened it impatiently and a gasp escaped from his lips. He raised his hand and lovingly extracted its contents, his fingers curling round the familiar contours of his own wand. The wand he'd thought destroyed after his arrest and conviction.
"It was on your bedside table when you were arrested. I took and hid it from the Ministry. When they came back asking for it, I gave them the wand of someone who had died during the Battle of Hogwarts." Madame Pomfrey quietly explained.
"Well," she said, more briskly. "I'd better get back to my patients!"
Severus was still staring affectionately at his wand. An old friend thought lost for good, but now, almost miraculously, returned to him. He was still staring when the house was rocked by a loud explosion.
Ginny Potter shouted from the hallway. "It's the Ministry, they're mounting an attack… and they're not even trying to hide it from the Muggles!"
"What are your orders, Professor?" her husband asked him urgently.
T.B.C.