Disclaimer: I am not JKR

Stealing From Thieves

Chapter 26

We'll Keep Our Christmas Merry Still Part I

In the days leading up to Hermione's NEWTs I silently withdrew from everything. I convinced Hermione I was giving her the space she needed to study, which she appreciated. I told Minerva that I was busy planning lesson plans for the next term so my winter break would be free to build my home, and in the classroom I reverted to my old habit of interacting with the class only when absolutely necessary. My comments towards the students dripping with the familiar sarcasm that saturated almost every word I uttered were like a soothing balm that moistened my lips and tongue. The students began to comment that the Greasy Git of the Dungeons was finally returning to normal. Some seemed relieved, others distressed, but the bulk of them were suspicious that my attitude was a representation of some planned ill deed.

The truth was that I was planning to harm someone, but the students needn't know to whom or why of course. The night that I ran into Yaxley replayed itself in my nightmares and every waking moment when I was careless enough to let my mind wander from whatever task was at hand. That night I had found comfort in Hermione and friends, but in the morning when I woke, cold and alone in my overlarge bed every vein and nerve in my body was screaming for revenge. I was disgusted with myself for not crossing the wards and dropping him like a stone from his broom. His blood could have been a gift for the hungry acromantulas, and his bones left for the thestral foals to chew in the morning. But no, I had done what I thought everyone else would have wanted me to do. Don't fight anymore, Severus. I could hear those words in my head in everybody's voices, Hermione's, Minerva's, Hagrid's, and even Draco's. But they were all wrong, all of them. If Death didn't want me to fight anymore than he was wrong too. I may have promised Minerva that I would stay defensive and only harm to protect myself, but I no longer had any desire to do it. Dumbledore told me when I was disembodied that Death wanted me to live my life in a way that would satisfy me, and that meant going on the offensive. I was going to find Yaxley. As a compromise I was going get my revenge in a way that would satisfy me and the Aurors.

I debated on what would be the easiest way to find my prey. I could use scrying, but it required me to use the vision of small animals that either scurried or flew and their eyesight was cloudy and left me nauseas at best. Protective wards made scrying useless as well, which was proven quite clearly as I searched and searched for Potter while he was on the run during the previous year. Asking Draco was a possibility, especially considering he was being harassed by Yaxley, but I did not want to involve him anymore than he already was. I could never ask him to spy for me, the consequences were too great, and he was clever enough that if I asked he would guess what I planned to do. I certainly did not want his help. After careful consideration, however, it was Draco I chose to involve in my plans anyway. Using Draco would be like sending an invitation to Yaxley, and a simple plan was too desirable to pass up. I wanted to do my deed and then enjoy the rest of my Christmas break building my house in peace.

The last day of term and also NEWTs was a loud and raucous day in the castle. I took advantage of the pandemonium to pull Draco away from the Slytherin common room and bring him to my private quarters for tea just as I used to do before he no longer trusted me. He was surly mood since he had been forbidden by the Wizengamot to take his NEWTs early as a term of his probation. I know he longed to be finished with school, but I agreed that Hogwarts was the best place for him.

Draco said nothing, but regarded me with a quirked eyebrow and the ghost of a curl to his lips. He was feigning disinterest in our visit and he settled himself regally in his chair. The charade was wasted on me however, and after a moment he relaxed and took the proffered cup of tea I held out to him. I waited until we had both finished our second shortbread biscuit with raspberry jam on top before speaking. Subtlety may be a gift many Slytherins have, but I was more in the mood of getting straight to the point.

"I desire your help, Draco."

Unfazed Draco regarded me coolly. "With?"

"It is a personal matter that you are already unwillingly already involved with. I need to find someone. Soon."

"How soon?" he asked.

"As soon as possible." I casually flicked away a biscuit crumb that had landed on my neatly pressed pants. Draco wanted to ask directly who I was looking for, but I knew he would not. I could see in his eyes without Legilimency that he already suspected. He was fishing around in his brain for the right question that would give proof to his suspicions without demanding a name outright. I spared him the search.

"We could both be relieved a bothersome gnat if you lead me to this man."

Draco smirked. "I thought this was going to be a challenge."

I sat up in my chair and lowered my voice to a hiss. "You think it will not be? Do you think he would go anywhere you asked? Without suspicion? I need this to be quick, Draco, do you understand?"

I could see Draco's hackles rising. "I did as you asked, Professor. They suspect nothing of me. I have done nothing to neither help nor hinder them, and they have at least left me alone for the time being. I do not know what their plans are and I am not sure I should assist you if I do not know what your plans are either. You are changing again; perhaps you want to rejoin your old friends? I can understand why you would want to keep that quiet."

I forced my face into a mask of neutrality. Draco had shown me that he was truly changing. The contempt in his voice when he suggested that I was not against Yaxley, but secretly with him showed me that Draco was losing his confidence in the old ways more quickly than I originally believed. The fact that Yaxley and his thugs destroyed my home meant nothing. It was common Slytherin self-preservation to join those whom you could not beat. Lucius Malfoy was a shining example of that particular philosophy.

"I need him to come, Draco," I stated calmly not answering his question yet. I took a long sip of my tea before continuing. "I cannot tell you anymore until I have secured your word that you will lead Yaxley to me. You have to trust me again."

Draco lowered his grey eyes and stared at the hem of his sleeve for a moment. He sighed deeply and then looked back up into my eyes. "Do I have to make the Vow?"

"No!" I spat forcefully. "No, I would never place you in such a situation. You must trust that I intend you no harm. Your word is all I need."

Draco looked momentarily overcome that I would trust him enough to ask for something as paltry and unreliable as his word, but for my plans it would suffice.

As soon as he gave me his word, I explained the rest of my plan in detail.

Hermione was less easy to convince. The thought that I was going to get revenge was a bitter pill for her to swallow, but the fact that I was going to involve the Aurors eased the humanitarian in her somewhat. "You could get killed, Severus, even with the Aurors there," she said tears welling up in her eyes.

"Then that is my fate," I replied. I held her cradled in my arms. She was giddy with finishing her NEWTs and after I had listened to her prattle on about the apostrophes she might have forgotten on the fourteenth questions of her Ancient Runes exam I reiterated my earlier conversation with Draco to her.

"I thought we agreed your fate was to live," she said indignantly. "After all, isn't that why you are alive now? I understand your desire to get revenge, I really do, but why do you have to be there for what you have planned? If you are not going to outright kill him, you don't need to be there if there is a battle. And if you plan to be there, I am going to be there too. And I think it is kind of twisted that you want to see it in the first place."

"It is justice, Hermione. I have to witness it. If I cannot perform the act myself, I at least want to see it done. No, I do not want you there, or your friends. Absolutely not, you have been forbidden to participate or risk expulsion. I already told the Head Auror I would be there and he has agreed. I am lucky, Hermione. They could have had me locked up inside Azkaban instead to ensure that I don't turn on them and join Yaxley, but they are not. You see, Hermione? I will get my revenge in the way I see fit and also restore a little more good to my name so that you won't be attached to a reject of society for the rest of your life," I pulled her closer to me and placed a kiss on her stubborn chin. "Doesn't that make you a little happier?"

"I want the Death Eaters caught too, but I hate that you have to be involved. As much as I don't want to fight, I can't sit by while you do." Hermione pulled away from me and looked into the fire. The flames danced in her eyes reflecting the anger I could see there. "I am afraid that it will make you angry again. You are already changing back into how you used to be, so mean and spiteful all the time."

The words stung, but I could not deny the truth in them. I was either nice or not, and I needed to learn how to find that middle ground. The balance I somehow had with Hermione, but nowhere else.

"If everything goes according to plan, Hermione, it will be over soon and we can work on my attitude then," I said to her profile.

"What if this doesn't work? What if another Death Eater replaces each one you capture and dispose of? This could go on forever," she said still not looking at me.

"It won't. They will all disappear just like last time. No one will cross me again. If they do I will deal with it then." I forced her to look at me. "These are the dregs of the Death Eaters, Hermione, we almost have them all. Yaxley is the only one we need to be finished with this for a long time, possibly for the rest of our lives."

"I am going to be there," she stated. "I am no longer a student, I can't be expelled anymore and Professor McGonagall wouldn't sack me over this any more than she would you. If Draco knows how to find Yaxley, why doesn't he just take you all to him? Why does he have to come to you?"

"Draco will not divulge how he communicates with Yaxley, but I believe I know," I dragged a hand across my left arm where the ghost of my old Mark still remained. "I want him to come to me."

Hermione sighed in exasperation as she leaned into the crook of my arm. "I am not even going to try to understand you."

"Very wise. I knew you would learn eventually," I quipped. I could feel her smile as she kissed my neck, where Nagini bit me. "And for the record, you are still a student until you get your NEWT results. I will be meeting with the Aurors before then."

She stood up quickly and turned on me. "When exactly, are you planning on this? I thought you meant in a week, or weeks even. How quickly do you expect Draco to communicate with Yaxley?"

"He already did. It is happening tomorrow."

Hermione was torn between pleading with me not to do it and storming out of the room without another word. "Were you going to tell me that little bit? What if something happened to you and I had no idea where to find you?"

"I'm not doing this alone, Hermione. Somebody would notify you, and nothing should happen. I am planning an ambush that is so simple it is practically cowardly. Nobody wants me to fight, so I am setting it up to where I shouldn't have to. I refuse to discuss this with you anymore." I clenched my jaw tightly. As much as I wanted her to support me, I didn't need her approval. I just wanted her to be there when it was over. "I know what you are thinking. If it is going to be so easy, why can't you be there? Am I correct?"

She nodded.

"Very well, then. I will take you with me, but you may not like where are going." Hermione's eyes softened at my offered olive branch.

"Where are we going? I cannot tell you until we leave. I do not want Potter and Weasley involved."

"I won't tell them," she said with mild petulance.

I did not budge. "That is my condition. It is for their protection."

It was a lie that I feared she would never forgive me for, but that was for her protection.

The next day was crisp and cold with a new layer of snow making the grounds sparkle in the sun. Just after eleven almost every student was tucked away on the Hogwarts Express and travelling to warm comforts of home during the holidays. That included Harry and Ron. Hermione promised to go to Grimmauld Place in two days time and nobody argued with her. I worried that perhaps she was slowly being distanced from her friends, but I had been too absorbed in my own problems to determine if that was her doing or theirs. She seemed unaffected so I chose not to dwell on it for the time being. I had bigger fish to fry.

Hermione met me in Minerva's office directly at noon dressed in snug jeans and green sweater. My mood was less than cheerful, but even I could not resist giving her a full body glance that lingered ever so slightly over the curves of her rear and breasts. Wizard robes did nobody justice. Draped over her arm was a heavy down jacket in the same emerald green as her sweater. She was prepared for the outdoors. A couple of minutes later, Draco arrived in the office as well. He gave Hermione a surreptitious once over before scowling and turning towards me.

"What is she doing here?" he demanded. It was inevitable that our relationship was going to be public eventually, but I wished that Draco wasn't going to find out this way. Hermione huffed at first and then gasped in realization at where we must be going, and Draco turned towards her again. This time he looked at her longer and his expression and tone changed. "I mean, what does she have to do with this?"

"I will explain later. We must be leaving." Minerva was not there to see us off, but the portraits of Dumbledore and Phineas Nigellus both wished us all luck. I held out a bowl of floo powder to Draco. "We will follow."

As soon as Draco was gone Hermione slapped my arm hard and exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell me were going to Malfoy Manor?" It was almost cute the way she did it, but I was not pleased.

"Do not forget who I am, Hermione," I snapped. She recoiled like a scared child.

It took only a moment for her to recover. That was good; I did not want her afraid of me, but I did not want to be reminded of how much she meant me to either. What I was about to do was going to be painful enough.

"I never said that was where this will take place." I stepped into the fireplace with a handful of floo powder ready. I took more space than was necessary so she would not have room to join me in the fireplace unless I moved.

"Forgive me for this Hermione, I do love you," I said before releasing the powder and disappearing in a storm of green flames. As soon as I stumbled out the other side I disabled the fireplace from the floo network. It happened quickly, but not quickly enough for me to miss the stricken look in her usually warm chocolate eyes. Whatever happened that night I did not want her to see it.

Draco was dusting the ash off his clothes when I finished with the fireplace. I joined him without saying anything.

"Where is Granger?"

"She is not coming," I replied wiping my face with my handkerchief.

"What was she doing there then?" he demanded once more.

I put my handkerchief in my pocket and straightened my robes. I glared at him, his eyes level with mine for the first time I could remember. When did he get so tall? I could see Hermione as a woman, but Draco who was nearly the same age, still seemed like a little boy to me. "I said I would explain later."

"She looks better. Good even. Too bad she's a Mudblood," Draco mused as we left the travelling room. "Mother will be waiting in the parlour."

I gritted my teeth against his comments and let him lead me through the house. Much of the damage from Voldemort's time in the manor had been repaired, but the place still held signs of dark activity. The wood in the tables and wall trimmings were scorched were spells burnt scars into the smooth surfaces. The cloying scent of sulphur and decay, and dead dark spells hung in the air. The chandelier in the main entryway was gone; having shattered the day Hermione was captured and tortured. There was a thick layer of dust and disrepair everywhere. Curtains were shaggy and torn, candelabras and wall sconces held half melted candles with wax dripping over the edges of the holders onto the floor as if the candles had been carelessly replaced one after the other. Without magic, the Malfoy Manor was falling apart.

Worse than the house, though, was Narcissa. She sat in her usual high-backed chair in the parlour, but her eyes were blank, her clothes dirty, and her hair was limp. She had none of the airs she usually presented. No makeup, no painted nails, and all the youthful vivacity she maintained before the war was lost. I prayed it was not forever. Narcissa was dear to me and I hoped there was something better for her in the future.

"Severus," she croaked out in a voice that was raw with either disuse or screaming. Based on her expression I would not have been surprised by either one. "After all this time you are here. Why have you come?"

Draco walked over to his mother and kissed her before taking his place next to her. He stood facing me with his hand gently but protectively set on her shoulder. She reached up absent-mindedly to give his hand a pat. Draco's eyes were hardened with grief and pain. I knew it must have been torture to see his mother, the great and powerful Malfoy matriarch reduced to a weak and withered bag of bones. I had to choke back the large lump that had formed in my own throat as I reached out and clasped one of her thin hands in mine.

"I am here to help you, Narcissa. I am going to help you get rid of one of your threats and get vindication for us all. I know this is sudden, but it cannot be done any other way. Yesterday Draco invited Yaxley to meet with him under the guise that he is interested in his plans. Draco allowed Yaxley to pick the time and date, and predictably he picked today, just enough time to gather supporters, and is going to be in the direct centre of Kielder Forest at four this afternoon. Draco and I will be there accompanied by a team of Aurors who will be capturing and imprisoning as many as Yaxley dares to bring along." I paused to stand up and pace the room. Narcissa listened wide-eyed. A pale hand covered her mouth. "Of course I will do all I can to protect Draco. I know some of these people were once called friend, Narcissa, but they are friends no longer and I cannot express how much your family's aid in this mission will help you in the future."

"You are absolutely right, Severus," Narcissa said with a voice that was almost clear. "We have been punished enough and it is time we fought back."

I turned towards her stunned. I was not expecting such ready agreement. I was expecting pleading to be left out of it, even tears, but not such verve. "Yes," I said. "It is time to show you know where your priorities belong."

"What about Lucius? Shouldn't he have a say in this?" she asked.

"Mother," Draco interrupted. "I am the man of the house while he is away and this is my choice, my decision. Father will understand if he knows what is good for him. He wants out of prison just as much as you want him out."

Draco held his mother's gaze for several long moments. I shifted uncomfortably and moved to a chair, but the brush of my cloak startled Narcissa out of her reverie. She flitted a hand to her hair and then looked down at her soiled dress and frowned as if waking from a long and terrible dream. "I must go change. I should not be seen this way."

I stood aside as Draco helped her up and took her from the room. Once they were gone I was able to sit and contemplate the events of the day thus far. I was going to help the Malfoys and perhaps restore some of their honour in society over time. I was going to secure even more redemption for myself by helping the Aurors take down Yaxley and Dolohov, and whoever else might show up, if anyone, but I might have done it at the cost of Hermione. I prayed that she would forgive me for leaving her behind. I would be livid if she had done such a thing to me no matter the reason, but it was too soon to reveal our relationship to the Aurors and the Malfoys. I most certainly did not want her to get hurt, and I could not bear the thought of her seeing me relish in the misfortune of another, even someone as disgusting as an active Death Eater, but that is exactly what I planned to do.

About an hour later Narcissa returned from her rooms clean and refreshed looking. She was still too thin and much too pale, but she had put in some effort to look more like her old self. At the bottom of the stairs she whispered something in Draco's ear and he nodded disappearing through a door I knew led to the kitchen.

"You will have to excuse my son, Severus. Without the use of magic or elves in this house it takes longer to prepare meals. Draco is becoming quite a talented chef I must admit. I eat so poorly when he is not around." Narcissa stopped speaking and pulled her lips into a grimace. "You must excuse me as well; I should not speak so openly."

"No, do not feel as if you have to hide anything from me. I will help Draco in the kitchen." I left Narcissa to nurse her wounds in privacy just to find Draco in the kitchen doing the same. He was slamming things around and muttering under his breath. He made a few comments as he slammed cupboard doors about how his mother must be starving without him around to cook her and he uttered a particularly colourful string of curse words when a large spider leapt out of the bread box and took him by surprise. Draco saw me then and his grey eyes turned stony. His embarrassments at the situation clear in the flush of his cheeks. Neither of us said a word, but I helped him dig through the ice box and cupboards until we found enough salvageable ingredients to make some soup and sandwiches.

By the time the meal was finished it was time for Draco and I to head off and meet with the Aurors. We met them on the outside of the forest at Hadrian Wall. The air whipped around us as Dawlish accompanied by four other Aurors met with us and discussed battle tactics. Shortly after, four more Aurors arrived with a Dementor magically bound to them all; a silver terrier ran in circles around the oddly mixed group. For the first time in my life I was pleased to see one, but Draco staggered a few feet back and gasped for breath. The presence of the small Patronus was enough to protect my own fragile sanity for the time being.

"As soon as we see your signal we'll come. If we don't see your signal by a quarter past four we will come anyway using this locator charm," Dawlish handed Draco a charm that he put in his pocket. "Just say 'find me' and the charm will activate."

Dawlish scanned the skies and then looked at Severus and Draco. "It is about time you go on. I hope for all our sakes that this works out."

Draco and I both mounted the brooms we had brought along and flew to the centre of the forest. We landed at the southwest bank of the Kielder Water. We still had almost twenty minutes before anyone would be arriving, but the northern England sun was already setting. Neither Draco nor I was surprised that we had yet to catch sight of a single Muggle. The Aurors had placed several charms that would deter them around the borders and the air was bitingly cold. Just before four a rapidly thickening snow began to fall.

We stood in silence for several minutes until finally spoke. "Do you even need that thing?" he asked gesturing to my broom leaning against a spruce tree to my left. The frozen water of the reservoir before us was disappearing under a layer of snow, but the moonless sky was still bright enough to see the shapes of individual trees around us.

"No, I don't, but it is useful when I have to concentrate on other things." I scanned the horizon wondering if Yaxley would Apparate or fly in. I glanced at my watch one more time. There was less than two minutes to go and I expected him to be right on time. I tapped myself on the head and shivered as the chilled feeling of an egg being broken on my head spread as my body was disillusioned. I buried my broom under the new snow at my feet and slipped out of sight in between two trees standing close together. At exactly four there was a tell tale crack of apparition about twenty meters west of where we stood. Three more followed in quick succession. Draco stepped closer to the banks of the water where he could be more easily seen and lighted the tip of his wand. He held his hand steady and waited for Yaxley to approach him. Yaxley approached Draco with Dolohov right next to him. Dolohov I planned to kill since he was there. It would be retribution for everything he did to Hermione among others, but Yaxley I had special plans for. My hand itched as I gripped my wand and the words formed on my lips. I had to bite my tongue not to do it before the other two Death Eaters arrived. When they did arrive I saw they were masked. Draco looked at them both curiously.

"You have already seen Dolohov," Yaxley said in response to his questioning glance, "but you won't see us all."

"Smart," Draco said sardonically. "Not even Voldemort let us know who all of his followers were."

"Think you're brave, do you? Saying his name like that?" Dolohov hissed and took two quick steps forward until he was within a few inches of Draco's face. His foul breath formed a mist in the air that Draco recoiled from. I refused to wait any longer. Silently I lifted my wand overhead and sent a red spark in the air.

"What was that?" Yaxley spat out turning in a circle. He trained his wand at Draco's throat. "Who else is here, boy?"

Dolohov also pointed his wand at Draco, but before he could open his mouth to say anything Draco staggered away from him muttering 'find me' under his breath. I lifted my own invisible wand and stepped out from the trees. The falling snow fell around me, creating a ghostly snow covered simulacrum of my body, but nobody noticed. I wanted to kill Dolohov with every fibre of my being, but I knew I had to wait until it was in defence of me or Draco or I risked Azkaban even if my victim was a lowlife. Dolohov lashed out with a silent curse that sent Draco sailing through the air and crashing into the tree I had just stepped from. A bright patch of blood was blossoming across the back of his head. Dawlish saw Draco go down and I broke the spell. Everyone paused transfixed as I slowly came into being before them. The split second it took gave the Aurors a chance to surround us all.

"It's the traitor Snape!" Dolohov screamed. "Avada Kedavra!"

I managed to dodge that spell and another that flew from one of the masked men aiming for an Auror. Draco got to his feet and managed to silence Dolohov before he could curse me again, and once more I dodged the sickly green jet of light. It had turned into a full on fight and I planned to take advantage of the situation. I managed to meet Dawlish's eyes as we both duelled and he nodded a yes at my silent question. Pleased I turned on Dolohov just in time to see him throw another curse in my direction. This one I recognized as my slashing hex and blocked it easily. I needed to just get to Dolohov and Yaxley. That was all. Several more masked men appeared in the clearing making things more difficult.

One of the Aurors joined me in the duel and managed to get Yaxley with the Incarcerous. Dolohov looked at his friend and back at me quickly as if debating whether he should help him or not. He settled on not as two Aurors appeared and dragged him away ripping his wand from his hand underneath the ropes as they took him.

"I am going to kill you, Snape!" Yaxley shouted. That is when I heard it. A scream that was quickly stifled, but a scream I would recognize anywhere. A chill went up my spine as I glanced up and saw Hermione sitting behind Harry on his broomstick hurtling towards the ground. The back end of his broom was blazing and out of control.

"Potter too!" Yaxley shouted laughing madly with triumph. "Well done, Snape, well done."

I tried to ignore Hermione as she leapt from the broom and joined the fray. One of the Aurors quickly grabbed Harry and dragged him away disarming him as he went. "Sorry, Potter. I'm on orders. If you were to show up were supposed to detain you to keep you from fighting."

The Auror locked Harry up in a magical sphere similar to the one Voldemort held Nagini in before she attacked me, and left him with the two Aurors guarding the excited Dementor. Harry screamed in protest and beat his fists against the magical bars. Hermione managed to dodge an Auror trying to capture her and a curse from a Death Eater at the same time, but the deflected curse of one of the Aurors went array and hit Hermione in the shoulder. She went flying right into Dolohov who hit her with the Cruciatus before she even reached the ground. My heart splintered into a thousand pieces as I listened to her scream and watched her body contort into unnatural positions as the pain seared through her muscles, veins, and nerves. I pushed my way through the sea of spells and bodies to get a clear shot at Dolohov who all the while did not let go of the curse. Every second she spent under the curse was another second closer to breaking her sanity. I did not know how much she could take.

"Dolohov!" I shouted. He turned his head towards me but kept his wand trained on Hermione who continued to contort and twist on the ground. He was not going to stop.

I raised my wand and yelled the curse before he had a chance to react. "Avada Kedavra!"

Dolohov fell on top of Hermione who lay twitching beneath him. I rushed forward and pushed the heavy body off of her and turned her on her side. I was in the nick of time because she started retching all over me the moment I had her flipped. I was heedless of the battle ending around us as I held her still until she was through being sick. She closed her eyes, but I shook her awake. "Don't fall asleep, Hermione."

"M-me... so a-angry," she choked out before passing out.

"Hermione, wake up!" I shook her again until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Draco, his face was covered in blood, but he still somehow looked happy and all right. All of a sudden the noise of the night was flooding back into my ears. I could hear Harry shouting to be released so he could get to Hermione, and I could hear the talk as Aurors gagged Death Eaters and began Apparating with them to the Ministry.

"She will be okay, Severus," Draco said as he knelt next to Hermione and pushed the hair out of her face. I wanted to do that.

"It's time, Severus," Dawlish said gesturing to the Dementor who was hovering over Yaxley. I stood up and walked over to them.

"I told you Yaxley that I would make sure you felt everything you have ever done wrong in your life," I hissed at him. I was sickened by my own desire to see him punished. Thoughts of Hermione were momentarily abandoned as I stood as a witness to Yaxley's demise. It was almost unbearable to watch as the Dementor descended upon the Death Eater and planted his gaping maw over the man's nose and mouth. His body lifted off the ground as the Dementor devoured his soul, and then it was over. Yaxley lay on the ground, alive, but expressionless. He was an empty shell of a man while his soul would rattle around inside the belly of Dementor until the Dementor himself met his own end, which could take millennia. That was a fate worse than death. If he wanted immortality like his old master, he had it.

I let the relief that everything was over settle over me. I moved to Hermione who Draco had somehow managed to coax into a sitting position just as newly released Harry rushed over to help as well.

"No fair justice, wizarding world... no trial. Wrong, but glad it's over," Hermione mumbled through half closed eyes.

"Snape, look out!" Harry shouted as he attempted to fling up a shield to protect me from a jet of purple light aimed straight for head coming from a Death Eater that had managed to hide through the whole thing. Harry's shield barely clipped the spell as it rushed toward me and fragments of it hit my chest. It was enough. The searing pain in my chest blinded me and for a minute I thought my heart was going to explode, but it stopped beating instead and I found myself in the Nothing once more.