Liberté

"True friends stab you in the front." - Oscar Wilde

The sun had barely risen when Bellatrix Lestrange let herself out of the manor door and walked briskly towards the east, her heart pounding in anticipation. In the yellow morning light, she could just make out the green fringe of trees in the distance. She smiled, moving more quickly as her heartbeat increased speed, eager to see what damage had been wrought by the previous night. She could already imagine Severus. Perhaps he would be ravaged and mangled by the sharp teeth of the werewolf, or maybe his would have been an easier death; perhaps he would have chosen to take his own life rather than wait for the inevitable.Yes, she mused, that would be typical of Severus, to take the easy way out, and to go according to his own rules. No matter, she thought, her smile widening. He would be dead, of course, and she would retrieve the body in order to display the corpse to the Death Eaters that very afternoon. She could already imagine how proud Lord Voldemort would be. Perhaps he would congratulate her personally, or allude to her as his preferred favourite, now that the traitor who had long deceived him was gone.

Approaching the trees, Bellatrix grinned. It was a cruel expression, frightening on her once-beautiful face. Lupin, she knew, would be distraught. Perhaps the sight of what he had done to Severus would break him; Bellatrix grinned wider at the very idea. It would certainly make it easier for the Imperio to hold, if Remus lost the initiative to protect himself, his very will to live. The strong ones were trouble, and Lupin was strong, but he won't be, she knew, once he sees what he's done. Idly, she wondered how the boy had fared. Ideally, he would still be alive and able to serve under Greyback, but she knew there was a silver lining; if Lupin had killed his son as well, he would have absolutely no resistance to Voldemort's control.

The sudden sharp sound of a twig snapping underfoot caused Bellatrix to abandon her daydreams and spin around. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the man coming up the path behind her.

"Mulciber."

"Miss Bellatrix," greeted the Death Eater. His eyes seemed like searchlights as he greedily looked her over. "A fine morning. Where are you off to?"

She sneered. "Collecting the prisoners -- Remus, and the Lupin cub. And Snape's body as well, if there is anything left of him to drag back."

Mulciber frowned. "How come you're getting them? I thought Lucius had been instructed --"

"My brother-in-law has enough on his plate already, without adding the further responsibility of this menial task. I decided to assist him." She lifted her chin haughtily. "In any case, I doubt Lucius will be able to tear himself from his leisure. Draco has returned home, and my sister's dear husband does enjoy his pleasure."

Instead of blushing with embarrassment, Mulciber guffawed. "Lucky Lucius. I've told him for years that boy should be part of the inner circle. He's of age now, he has the mark -- why is Malfoy keeping him hidden?"

"How should I know? What my brother-in-law does is none of my affair." Bellatrix stared coldly at Mulciber. "Ask him yourself, if you are so keen to know, though I warn you, if you ever lay so much as a finger on my nephew --"

"All right, all right! I was just asking," sulked Mulciber. He made a face. "He's of age," he said again, under his breath.

Bellatrix glared. "That may be, but within the house of Malfoy, he will always be subject to his father's rule, not handed around the inner circle like a piece of meat. If you wish to express interest, do so to Lucius. Personally, I find it distasteful."

"You like your fun as well as anyone," Mulciber accused.

"That I do, but the idea of you pawing my nephew -" Bellatrix shuddered. "He has been raised as a servant to the Dark Lord. Therein lies his destiny, a route that will certainly lead him to glory. I do not wish to see him sidetracked, and don't forget, he is a pureblood and therefore off limits to the likes of you."

Mulciber reddened, looking strangled. "My blood's pure as anybody's --"

"Doubtful," answered Bellatrix. "But even so, you're still beneath a Malfoy -- and a Black," she added, as Mulciber's eyes roved her body again.

"Lucius --"

"Lucius would agree with me entirely," Bellatrix stated.

"No," spoke Mulciber. He looked over Bellatrix's shoulder. "Good morning, Lucius."

They were joined by the tall blonde, who strode imperiously to Bellatrix's side. He was impeccably groomed as usual, his robes fastidious and his every hair in place, but Lucius' skin was slightly more pale than usual, and his eyes tinged gently with pink, as though he had slept only fitfully. He sneered regally at Mulciber, and nodded to Bellatrix. "Mulciber," he said coldly. Then, "morning, Bella. It's rare to see you up with the lark. Narcissa told me you'd gone out. May I ask where to?"

"I'm going to check on the paddock," Bellatrix said, slightly disturbed by the forceful stare Lucius directed her way. Normally, he was a man that displayed his mettle only when absolutely necessary. The rest of the time, he was smooth as velvet, more concerned with manners and image than with arguing, since his aura of dominance came through quite clearly without him needing to allude to it.

Lucius looked slightly puzzled. "Oh? I believed that responsibility had been assigned to myself." His eyes narrowed, sparking flint. "Has there been a change in assignments, or do you simply have some personal investment in the outcome of last night's hunt?"

"I want to ensure Snape is dead," Bellatrix stated baldly. She watched as Lucius tightened his jaw a fraction, radiating tension. "Surely you find this acceptable, brother. We should drag the body through the grounds, to parade our victory, then celebrate the elimination of that traitor from our ranks. I merely rose early to hasten that happy event."

"And if he's not dead?"

Bellatrix frowned. "Well of course he's dead, Lucius. He was trapped, with two werewolves. The paddock is not large enough for him to have fled and hidden himself well, and of course one cannot Apparate into it or from it. Naturally, we will find him dead, if there is anything left of him to find at all."

Lucius appeared to have a headache, for he pressed his fingertips to his forehead for a moment, remaining quiet. Then he sighed, loudly. "You may be right."

"Well of course I am," Bellatrix chided. "What is the matter with you, Lucius? You should be thankful Voldemort's ranks have been purged of that filthy spy."

"I am," Lucius said, in a stony, entirely unconvincing voice. "Well then, Mulciber, perhaps you will do the honour of confirming the death for us. I am sure Bellatrix has more pressing matters to attend to, and I should like to quickly be rid of this chore so that I can return to bed."

Mulciber grinned. "Draco's back, isn't he?"

"I fail to see what that has to do with you," Lucius said, his voice raised and more forceful than usual. He cocked an eyebrow. "Though no doubt you're eagerly awaiting his admission to the circle." He glared. "Get on with your work, or I'll see to it that there is a vacancy in our ranks that my son can fill."

The other man looked startled, then perturbed. He squared his shoulders. "Fine," he said, and stalked off towards the paddock.

"Lucius, I was perfectly capable --"

"Of course, Bella," he said calmly. "Let us go down as well, then, and discover the truth for ourselves. I would simply prefer a decoy to go first, lest any danger presents itself. Severus may be gone, but no doubt Lupin remains, and if his mind is too damaged by the trauma of what has occurred, he may lash out with violence. Better Mulciber than us."

Bellatrix crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance, disappointed to have her treat ruined. "How is Draco?" she asked cattily, smirking at her brother-in-law. "Glad to be home from school?"

"I daresay he is," Lucius said, though he tensed. "I -- I don't believe he will be returning to Hogwarts for any further stays. Lord Voldemort has requested his services, and Draco will need to dedicate his time to the cause rather than the lessons at the school. It's a convenience, actually, to be able to teach him myself. A Hogwarts education, even now that our own kind are installed, is woefully incomplete."

"And I'm sure he's happy to spend more time with you. You must be very glad to have more time with him."

Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Perhaps."

A cry echoed in the distance, and the conversation ended abruptly.

"Come on," urged Bellatrix. She moved swiftly toward the trees where Mulciber had disappeared, not concerned for her comrade's safety, but eager to be in the know.

"You don't suppose Severus is alive, do you?" Lucius asked. For a second, he sounded almost hopeful, but quickly smothered the emotions.

Bellatrix shook her head, breaking in to a jog. "Of course not, but even if he was, Mulciber would have taken care of him by now." She frowned, upset at being denied the opportunity. "That would explain the shout, though I rather except it is the werewolf, immersed in regret for what he's done. Hurry up, let's go find out."

Hidden in the shadows of the trees, which blocked much of the morning light from reaching the ground, Severus Snape released the dead man's body and doubled over, clutching his stomach as though experiencing a painful cramp. He glared at Mulciber, who lay still among the grass and fallen leaves, his eyes still open, but sightless. The Death Eater's head was at an awkward angle, due to the fact that his neck had been broken.

"Are you hurt?" came Remus' voice from deeper between the trees. The brunet emerged, looking almost regretfully at the fallen body before nodding once to himself and turning form Mulciber to Severus.

Severus sighed, lowering himself onto a nearby boulder. He panted slightly, his hands pressing into his stomach and side. "Not badly," he said, his voice bitter. "I should have anticipated the knife, but I thought once I got his wand away from him, he'd be helpless. No matter," he added, a bit more forcefully. He lifted his head, meeting Remus' eyes, and pressed his lips together thinly, in an expression that may have passed as a grim smile. "He's dead, and we've got a wand."

"Then we should go soon," Remus advised. He bit his lip, looking over at Severus. The man had still not recovered from the transfiguration, and now he had a minor stab wound to contend with. "Can't you heal yourself?"

"Cursed knife," Severus said roughly, holding out the silver blade for a moment to show Remus, then tossing it aside. It fell near Mulciber, and glittered in the gloom. "It's not deep, it'll heal in time when the spell wears off."

Remus looked perplexed. "The curse didn't fade when you killed Mulciber?"

"No. Plainly, someone else cast the spell. I would not be surprised to learn it was Voldemort himself." With some discomfort, Severus forced himself to stand. He looked at his hands, which were stained in his own blood, and sighed wearily. The night had been long, full of hunting and roaming, and he was exhausted. The injury only added to the problem, but he knew there was no time to lay around complaining about it. Shrugging back his black hair, he looked at Remus again. "Did you find the boy?"

The shadow that flickered across Remus' face made the answer evident, but he spoke it aloud anyway. "No. Teddy's nowhere near us. I didn't check everywhere, but I would have felt him, I'm certain of that. I think he escaped the paddock, but don't ask me how." His shoulders sagged. "I -- I called for him, but I don't think he knows me anymore."

"Last night," Severus pointed out. "From what I can remember, it was obvious he knew you were his father." He grimaced, despising the tragic expression Remus wore. It evoked a strange, unfamiliar empathy within him that made him uncomfortable. "He'll be fine."

"If they find him --"

"They'll take him back to Greyback. It's not ideal," Severus acceded as Remus looked up sharply. "I know, but they kept him alive. He won't be killed if they can round him up, which is more than can be said for us, I presume." He groaned slightly at his soreness. "He could still be in wolf form, couldn't he? Perhaps that's why he didn't respond. You might not have located him simply for that reason, Lupin. As a wolf, he would be far quieter, less likely to stray inadvertently into a human's path --"

Remus shook his head. "I know him. I would have smelled him. He's my son, I would have felt something if I'd been anywhere near him," he said defiantly. "He'll not return to Greyback, Severus, not so long as I'm alive to prevent it. You see what they've done to him, what he's been turned into --" His voice broke and he covered his face, his shoulders trembling. "He is my son," he said after a moment. His voice was muffled, but firm. "I won't leave without him."

"You'll have to --"

"NO! I won't." Remus glared fiercely, his jaw set as he prepared his tirade. Then he fell silent, his eyes widening. "Quiet," he said, in a barely audible voice. "Someone's coming. No, more than one…."

"I hear them," Severus mouthed back. He tensed, listening, trying to silence his breath, which seemed to roar loudly from his lungs. He recognised the graceful stride that was Lucius Malfoy's, and his heart beat quickened as he tried to place the other party, who was hurrying through the underbrush and making rather a lot of racket. Bellatrix, he decided, and felt himself go cold at the thought. They were well matched, Bellatrix and himself, and in a fair duel Severus knew he would have a fine chance of winning, but Bellatrix struck with no conscience or restraint, and even one-on-one, there would be no guarantees. However, Lucius was extremely skilled as well. He did only as much work as was necessary to win, rather than charging like a bull in a china shop the way Bella did, but the two of them together was not a match Severus had much hope of winning.

"Mulciber!" snapped Bellatrix Lestrange, surprisingly close. Remus shrank back into the shadows, beckoning Severus towards him. "What is happening? Have you found them? Is Snape dead?"

Covering his mouth and nose to silence his breathing, Severus drew back through the trees after Remus, moving as silently as possible. He knew Apparition was impossible. They would have to find a way out of the grounds first, to someplace where their movement was not inhibited. That task would be difficult enough, but Severus knew Remus would stand by his word and refuse to leave until Teddy had been located. They would have to play cat and mouse with two armed Death Eaters, while sharing only one wand between them.

"Damned fool, where has he gone off to?" Bellatrix mumbled. "Mulciber, you lazy sod, report! Where are you?"

"Quiet," warned Lucius. "We must have the advantage. If you give away our position --"

"To an unarmed werewolf and his mad young son?" Bellatrix laughed hysterically. "I have no fear of Lupin, let me assure you. He's only savage by moonlight, and even then reluctantly. MULCIBER!" she screamed abruptly. "Idiot! Where have you gone off to?"

Nodding to Severus, Remus crept further into the woods, his anxiety growing. He wanted to flee, but he could not go without his son. Perhaps Nymphadora had not been the true love of his life, but she had been at the very least a loyal friend, someone who had loved him unconditionally. The boy was all that remained of her now, and Remus knew he could never live with himself if he abandoned his son to the Death Eaters in order to seek his own freedom. It would be easier to surrender his chance at survival than it would be to cope, knowing he had left Teddy behind.

"Go on, find the boy, and hurry," Severus spoke as silently as he could. "I'll hold them off."

"You're wounded," Remus pointed out.

"I'll live."

"It's two against one."

"As it will be if you stay, seeing as we have just one wand." Severus glared, not out of anger at Remus, but frustration at their situation. "Quickly now, we haven't much time. I don't care to bet on our chances of getting out of here, and the longer we wait, the worse the odds get."

"This is all your fault," Bellatrix snapped as she slammed her arm against several low-hanging branches, shoving them ruthlessly out of the way. "If you had allowed me to come down first instead of sending that moron Mulciber, we would be back in the manor now, toasting the Dark Lord's victory instead of prowling around in the woods." She swatted at an insect, wearing an expression of distaste. "That idiot!"

Lucius glared back, smoothing his hair to give himself something to do. He feared if he left his hands idle, he might strike his sister-in-law, and while he felt confident of his ability to defend himself from her attack, he had more pressing concerns than starting a row with Bellatrix. "If you are tired, feel free to return to my manor for a rest, Bella," Lucius said. His words were cordial, but his tone was strained, and there was obvious anger under the surface. "For my part, I fail to comprehend why you are forcing your involvement in this task anyway. The job of collecting Severus' body and documenting his death was assigned to me, you recall."

"I merely thought to help," Bellatrix said, her voice equally high-class. Then she sneered, losing the pretence of manners. "I assumed you'd be too busy fucking Draco to tear yourself away for such a menial task."

Lucius' face whitened. His grey eyes lit a startling silver as he rounded on his sister-in-law. "Do not dare --"

"It's the truth, isn't it? Don't feign innocence with me, dear brother." Bellatrix made a face. "I've known for years. Your wife knows too. You should be thankful that unlike some, Narcissa was raised to know when to be discreet and loyal, otherwise she would have left you years ago. It disturbs her; I've always said she was entirely too fond of the child. She smothers him, when she ought to be preparing him for adulthood in the Dark Lord's service. I am not like my sister in that respect. I understand you, I do. Now you should understand me." She drew herself up to her full height. "I am our Lord's favourite. It is I that should have received those honours he doled out to Snape, and I will do anything to remind him of my loyalty and service. You will not get in my way, is that clear?"

Lucius opened his mouth to speak, but just as he did so, the crack of a branch being broken underfoot alerted them both to a third presence. Lucius, assuming it was Mulciber, did not draw his wand. Bellatrix did, though she held it limply, more as a threatening pose than a deadly weapon.

"And just where might you have been?" Bellatrix asked sarcastically as a figure draped in black began to emerge from the trees. Taking it for Mulciber, she glared.

No answer came, but a bolt of red light shot out from the space between two trees, rushing towards Bellatrix with the speed of a runaway train. Bellatrix raised her wand, but her defences were not quick enough. The Stunning spell collided with her chest, and she keeled over backwards, falling limply to the ground, where she remained, unconscious.

"Lupin?" called out Lucius, raising his own wand.

"No." Severus stepped out, shaking back the dark hood of the cloak he had taken from Mulciber, so that Lucius could see his face. He was pleased and a bit surprised to see a flicker of relief cross Lucius' features along with the shock. "It's me. Mulciber is dead." He held up the wand, and watched as Lucius nodded gravely.

"How did you manage to survive?" Lucius asked, his own wand raised.

Severus shrugged. "You know me, I'm resourceful, but that doesn't matter now. I'm leaving here, Lucius, and I'm taking Lupin with me. You can make this simple or difficult, but rest assured, if you fight me, I will do my best to kill you."

Lucius narrowed his eyes. "What happened to the boy?"

"Lost," Severus answered simply.

Lucius raised his wand, and Severus prepared to strike, but the blonde man shrugged, indicating that Severus was not the target. He peered into the woods. "They are both at the far end of the grounds, near the field." He paused, steeling himself. "You cannot be permitted to escape. You know that, Severus. I'll be murdered if you go."

"They already believe me dead," Severus answered, lowering his wand slightly. "I was supposed to die by Lupin's hand, last night. No one expects me to have survived; you're the only one who knows."

"And you expect I'll simply allow you to go free then? If anyone ever discovered the truth…." He trailed off, shaking his head. "An incredible risk."

Severus had known Lucius too long to allow himself to hope the man would be soft-hearted. Perhaps Lucius did not take to explosive cruelty the way Bellatrix did, but he was not known for his kindness either, and if he displayed mercy, it was always for his own gain. Still, Severus thought it was worth a try. "A risk worth taking?" he suggested. "For an old friend?"

Instead of answering, Lucius stared at the trees. "Lupin is on his way back. The boy is with him; there appears to be a struggle."

"His mind is broken. Whatever Greyback has done to him --"

"But Lupin is still attached to the boy?"

"Very much so. Lucius," Severus spoke urgently, gripping Mulciber's wand tightly. "Turn around and go back to the manor, please. I don't want to fight you, but I will if I have to, if you won't let us leave. Bellatrix is stunned. If I can get us away from here before she regains consciousness I will, otherwise, I'll kill her. No one needs know you were ever here at all."

Lucius shook his head softly. "I cannot do that, Severus. My wife and son would be made to pay the price, if such folly were ever uncovered. No. I won't take that risk. Bellatrix knows --"

"I'll wipe her memory!"

"Severus, we'll all be killed! She's too strong for a memory charm to hold, have you lost your senses?" Lucius seemed agitated, not at all his usual sedate, graceful self. He clutched his head. Inside, he was in turmoil, a strange occurrence. Normally, Lucius cared very little about anyone aside from himself and those things he valued, such as his family and his possessions. His goals were selfish aims, and he operated from a self-centred perspective. However, he had known Severus for years, even since Severus had been a newly fledged Hogwarts student, and all throughout his early years of training in the Death Eaters. They were close; there was a history between them. Lucius faltered and sighed.

The black-haired man stood firm. "Then I'll kill her. Merlin knows, I've been wanting to for years. Don't tell me you would mourn the loss," he added, with a wry smile at Lucius. Then his face became serious. He was in a dangerous predicament, he knew, and without Lucius' help, there was slim chance of success. "Lupin!" he called, hearing the soft footsteps. "Come here."

Remus came, dragging Teddy with him and looking as though he hated himself for what he was doing. "Teddy," he whispered, trying to haul the boy to his feet, "please." Teddy remained on all fours, growling and snapping with a fully human mouth. "Severus, he won't --" Remus froze, gaping from Lucius to Severus.

"It's all right," urged Severus. "Come on. We are going. Lucius…."

"Very well," Lucius said, his resolve crumbling. He cast a dispassionate glance at Bellatrix. "Hurry, then, before she wakes up. This way."

He led them through a path between the trees, towards what appeared to be a rickety fence, typical of a sheep pasture or other farm. It was weather-beaten, and seemed barely capable of holding itself aright.

"This is the end of the area we charmed," Lucius said. "Only Narcissa and I know the precise boundaries, though Avery also believes himself informed on the secrets of our manor." He managed to look put out.

Remus looked puzzled. "We just climb over, and we're free? That's it?"

Lucius laughed, a low sound. He held out his hand, waving it through what appeared to be clear air. Then, like a mime, his hand seemed to encounter something solid, but invisible. "It is spelled to contain whatever we store here. There is no escaping it except with the correct spell." Calmly, he uttered the words. "Severus, go."

Nodding reassuringly to Remus, Severus straddled the rickety fence and tossed himself over to the other side. The weather was abruptly different, as was the scenery. In place of sunshine was rain and mist. The environment looked bleak and dark, the tree limbs bare and heavy as they scratched at the sky. A chill wind blew, the pervading chill making Severus shiver.

"Come on, Lupin," he started to say, turning around towards the fence where Remus, Teddy and Lucius waited, but instead of the faded wooden fence and the bright sun, there was simply a further expanse of the craggy, mist-laden moor lands, without another human being in sight.

Furious, Severus slammed his right hand into his left palm. "NO!"

Remus blinked. He had seen Severus place one foot upon the lowest beam of the fence, then swing his leg over and jump down, but then Severus had disappeared into nothingness. Remus could still see the open field, marked here and there by little assemblies of small trees, but there was no sign of Severus.

"What --"

"Sealed," said Lucius. The sorrow had lifted from his shoulders, and he looked down upon Remus with disdain. "You didn't actually believe I would allow you to go free, did you? Ah, you did," he surmised, shaking his head as though dealing with someone of very low intelligence. "Trusting, like Dumbledore. That's what makes you all so easy to kill."

Remus' body went limp, and he felt Teddy pull free from his grasp and dart off. Lucius seemed unconcerned by the defection, and smiled without humour as Remus sank down to the ground, weighted with fear and sadness. "Did -- what happened to Severus?"

"He's free, and far away. Lucky for him, my grandfather suffered extreme bouts of paranoia. He rigged up escape routes throughout the house and grounds, lest enemies come." Lucius laughed authentically. "A foolish man, but his tricks have served Severus well. However," he went on, shaking his head patronisingly at Remus, "I'm afraid you're not quite as lucky."

With that he raised his wand, and fired the spell.