Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the story line . All rights belong to J.K. Rowling
Chapter Twenty Nine: Once a Turncoat
Severus Snape scowled. This would simply not do. Once again Harry Potter had broken all the rules and came out of it smelling like a rose. There simply was no justice in the world anymore.
The scowl deepened. Now, not only did he owe a life debt to Harry's father, he owed one to the sniveling brat as well. He might just as well swear fealty to Potter's brat children when they were born. Oh, he harbored no illusions that Potter and his wife would be killed. No, the whelp and his bitch would win, that much was clear.
No, there was no justice anymore. Snape looked down at his forearm, marveling for what seemed the four hundred and eightieth time that Potter had actually removed the mark. Potter had been right, it had been a burden on his soul, but it was his burden to bear. Potter had removed even that from him. Damn him anyway! Now he was useless as a spy, and he had no choice but to remain hidden away at Hogwarts.
How ironic it was that he now found himself in the same position as the Hound. He didn't dare leave the castle grounds, for the Dark Lord surely knew that the mark had been removed by now. He had no way of knowing when the summons went out anymore, marking him for death if he were spotted by any of the Dark Lord's servants.
It was not the way he had envisioned things coming to a conclusion. He had always hoped that he would be the one to drive the nail in the Dark Lord's coffin, he, the conquering hero. But no, it was to be, of all people, that whining brat, Potter. Oh, he thought he was the do all and end all of everything, that one. The great Harry Potter. The brat who lived. It sickened him to even think of it. He thought he was so above everything and everybody. He paid no attention to anyone he didn't deem worthy of his notice. What an insolent, petulant child.
Snape was so mad that he clenched his fists in fury. He heard the crack at the same time as he felt the vial break in his hand, its sharp edge cutting into his palm. He felt the liquid seeping into the wound, entering his blood stream directly.
"Damn," he swore bitterly as everything went black.
*0*0*
"Er, Professor, are you okay?" Dean Thomas said, peering at the staggering form of Professor Snape as he made his way toward the exit.
"Snickety fang, bargle blut," muttered Snape as he pushed his way past Dean and out the door. Dean was about to make a grab for him when a pair of strong hands grabbed him and pulled him into an adjoining room.
"What?" Dean exclaimed, and found a hand quickly placed over his mouth. He started to struggle, but stopped as a woman stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of him.
"Oh, poor little boy mustn't say a word, it might get him in lots and lots of trouble." She was a little shorter than Dean, with long black hair, and coal black eyes. There was a hint of danger in her expression.
Dean tried to break away and run, but the hands held him firmly in place. His eyes widened in horror as the woman pulled out a wand and pointed it at him.
No, no, that was a mistake, you see. I'm afraid it will be the last mistake you ever make. Oh how I'd like to make you scream, but we mustn't be heard, now should we? Lucky you, no cruciatus curse for you today." She turned to walk away, but after a couple of steps she stopped and turned around. "Avada Kedavra!" she exclaimed. It was the last thing Dean ever saw.
They stowed his body in the empty classroom, and left quietly in pursuit of Professor Snape.
*0*0*
Harry sat up in bed. Something was wrong, he could feel it. He glanced over, and Ginny was there, by his side, sleeping peacefully. What had woken him? He searched his feelings. What was it that had woken him? Ron? No, Harry could feel his presence, Hermione's too. Neville or Luna? No, it wasn't them.
He got out of bed and pulled on his trainers and threw his robe on around him, grabbing his wand.
"Where do you think you're going?" came his wife's voice from behind him.
He groaned inwardly. He should have known that he couldn't sneak off without her waking up.
"There's something wrong, Gin."
"Like what, Harry?"
"I don't know, but it just doesn't feel right. I think I should go and investigate."
"You mean we should go and investigate," she responded.
"Of course, my dear. I just thought that I wouldn't disturb you."
"Uh huh," she said, obviously unconvinced. She grabbed her own robe, checking to make sure she had her wand. "Come on Potter, let's go."
Harry sighed to himself as he followed her out the door. Why did he have to fall for someone who insisted on throwing herself in harms way? They went down the stairs, with Harry stopping short at the door to his old dorm. "Gin," he hissed. "In here." He waited for her to come back up the few steps and they went in quietly.
They looked around the room, and eventually their eyes fell upon Dean's unused bed. They shared a concerned look, and were turning to go when Harry felt the hair on the back of his neck rise. He whirled around and saw a sight that scared him more than he would have thought possible.
There, floating about a foot above the mattress, was Dean, or at least he thought it was Dean. He looked again, and saw that he could see clean through him as he shimmered with a ghostly look.
"Dean?" he whispered.
"Yes Harry?"
"Er, what happened to you?"
"Well what does it look like happened to me, you git? I died now, didn't I?"
Ginny clapped her hands over her mouth. Harry went pale. "How?" he asked.
"It was this woman and someone else, she got me with the killing curse. They left my body down in the empty classroom next to the entrance. Oh, and I think they were after Snape. He was acting really weird."
Harry and Ginny shared a look. "Er, stay here, Dean," Harry stammered. He grabbed Ginny and dragged her out and down the stairs. "We need to tell Dumbledore!" he panted as they ran out of the entrance hole.
Ginny's response was to start singing a trilling, wordless song. Harry glanced at her for a moment, and then thought better of saying anything. Moments later they were met by an answering song. Fawkes was swooping down to land gently on Harry's shoulder.
Harry skidded to a halt, and watched as Ginny did the same. "Fawkes," he panted. "Tell Dumbledore to meet us in the empty classroom by the entrance. It's urgent."
Fawkes spread his wings and took flight, then he vanished in a flash of red light. Harry and Ginny resumed their headlong flight down the seven flights of stairs to the entry chamber.
They got there just as Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived.
"Potter, what is so urgent?" said Professor McGonagall as she stood there panting with effort. Dumbledore stood there serenely, looking completely nonplussed at having sprinted from his office.
"It's Dean Thomas, Professor," gasped Harry, grabbing at a stitch in his side. "He's been killed."
"What?" McGonagall exclaimed, sharing an anxious look with Dumbledore.
"Where, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"In there," he said, pointing at the door to the empty classroom, all the while crouching down and rubbing his side.
Dumbledore strode in, followed closely by McGonagall and Ginny, with Harry bringing up the rear.
There, in the a darkened corner, they found Dean's body. Ginny wept openly, and McGonagall made a strangled sound in her throat. She was shaking with rage.
"Professor," Harry said to Dumbledore. "Dean's ghost said something about a woman and that Professor Snape had left the castle, acting really weird."
He felt something brush against his leg. Looking down he spotted Mrs. Norris, Argus Filch's scrawny cat. Sure enough, moments later Filch himself arrived. He stared at the body in open shock.
"Ah, Argus, I need you to go immediately to Gryffindor tower and to the seventh year boy's dormitory. There you will find the ghost of this poor boy. Would you be so kind as to escort him down here to talk to me? Thank you. Minerva," he said as Filch nodded and turned to leave. "I believe you need to inform his house mates. It is the proper thing to do."
"Of course, Albus," Professor McGonagall said, her face ashen.
"Ginny, maybe we should go back with Professor McGonagall and help…" Harry's voice trailed off as he stared off into space.
There was Professor Snape, writhing on the ground, screams echoing from the walls as a gaunt black haired woman pointed her wand at him.
"She's got Snape!" Harry yelled. He pulled his wand and traveled, disappearing with a pop.
"Harry, No!" Ginny screamed, but it was too late. He was already gone.
Harry appeared a few feet away from Snape. He saw Bellatrix LeStrange standing there, her lips curled back in a grotesque smile as she applied the cruciatus curse. He went to hex her when he heard from behind him "Crucio!" and his world exploded in anguish.
Ginny was walking with Professor McGonagall up the stairs to Gryffindor tower when she screamed and collapsed to the floor, her muscles locked in a tetany of pain.
McGonagall stooped down next to her. "Potter, what's the matter?"
"Harry," Ginny gasped as another wave struck her. She screamed again. McGonagall scooped her up in her arms and made her way quickly down the stairs towards the hospital wing.
Harry gasped with pain as he tried vainly to make it stop. He was vaguely aware that if he clenched up any more he would probably snap his wand. He managed to make his fingers release their grip and the wand clattered to the ground.
Then, as quickly as it had hit, the pain was gone. There was a howling, choking cry, and Harry looked up. His attacker was clutching at his throat, a long dagger sticking out of it. Behind him was a small, mousy man with a silver hand clenched around the dagger's hilt.
"Now we're even, Potter," he said with an evil smile, and then he disapparated.
Ginny stopped screaming and struggling in McGonagall's arms. She lifted her head weakly. "Harry needs me," she managed, and disappeared with a pop.
Ginny appeared behind Bellatrix just as Harry grabbed his wand. They both leveled their wands at her and screamed at the same time "Bombardo!" Bellatrix's face showed a startled expression as she was hit from two directions. Her body was literally ripped apart by the forces, and her surprised face landed in a tree a few yards away.
Harry staggered to his feet, just as Ginny sank to her knees. He ran to her and gently lifted her up to her feet and steadied her. "Alright, Gin?"
"Yeah, Harry, I'm okay now. You?"
"Okay. We need to see to Snape." They helped each other over to Snape's side. He was still breathing, but a small puddle of drool had dripped from his mouth, and he was very still.
"Professor, can you hear me?" Harry said, shaking him gently. Snape stirred slightly and opened his eyes. They were slightly out of focus. "Come on Ginny, help me get him to his feet." Together they struggled to get him upright.
"There's no way I can do anything but walk to the castle with him. I'm too worn from that to travel. You?"
"The same," she said.
"Alright, together then," he said. They proceeded to half carry, half drag the semiconscious Snape back through Hogsmeade and back to Hogwarts.
Author's Note: Not much to talk about here, 11 more chapters and it comes to an end...
The story recommendation for the chapter is "Afternoon Naps" by armywife012205. HP/GW one shot. In fact, this one goes out to Nat3738. Read as much as you can by her, she's a big H/G shipper.
