Chapter 35
Severus waited anxiously by himself, the cell was small and damp just like the others but it held a certain hope that he was pretty sure had never existed within the small space. He was outraged that the idiot boys had even come but he couldn't hold back the small tinge of gratitude he felt as the boys departed with such enthusiasm and determination. However, this meant nothing for house points, the boys would simply lose some for their pigheadedness.
Suddenly his stomach growled painfully but he ignored it, there was much more to think about than food. He was extremely sore all over and he was having trouble breathing, he could have told Claire his ribs were broken before she started poking and prodding him but he didn't want to worry her. There was a chance he may still live if the boys managed to get the right healing potions to him and if they got there on time… which was unlikely, proven by their lack of promptness when attending his classes.
Severus smiled at the memory of abashing his two students and taking off house points whenever they were late for class. He missed those days already, it was very stress reliving at times to degrade people with egos the size of England, such as famous Potter.
He tried to hold in a cough as two Death Eaters walked past his cell, he didn't want to call attention to himself. It hurt painfully to hold his breath and he feared he wouldn't be able to suck in some air again once he stopped trying so hard to continue breathing. However, to his immense relief he was able to draw in a large breath of air that stung the inside of his chest. His other broken bones didn't seem to matter much as his burning chest preoccupied his mind. Then another thought flitted across his overcrowded thoughts. What of the boys? They weren't back and he had sent them off over half an hour before. It really wasn't that difficult to find, he had given them simple directions had he not? So simply even one of the Death Eaters could find it…unfortunately, that was saying a lot.
Severus suddenly had a very strong urge to shave his head because his long stringy black hair was sticking to his face once again. It was chilly in the cell so he wondered why he was perspiring until he noticed that his fists were balled at his sides. He quickly unclenched them but didn't know if they had been pressed together so hard because of his injuries or because of the worry that meant the boys weren't back yet.
Many would believe that their absence would have no effect on him, even that he would wish for their disappearance but that wasn't the case. His job was to protect his students, even if said students were in Gryffindor.
His eyes started getting heavy; it felt as if large weights had been placed over his eyelids. Was this it then? He was going to die in a bloody small cell, captive at the very place he had been spying in for the most part of his life? Just before he felt like giving in, a pair of blank blue eyes stared at him behind his eyelids. Claire… how long had it been since he talked to her, saw her or touched her?
Too long.
Was she ok? What if she needed him at that very moment and all he could do was depend upon the spawn of James Potter and lie in a stupid cell, wallowing in self-pity. He thought about her for a minute, was she worth living for? Or should he just let go, after all, he had tried to redeem himself. He could always have Potter get her and her father out safely… No, he knew he had one last gift to give her, even if he had to die trying. The plant Potter was bringing back from the laboratory was very important, and it hadn't even occurred to him until a couple of moments ago. It was the perfect ingredient, something he hadn't thought of before while experimenting in his labs. It was the final ingredient to Claire's gift, if only he had enough bloody time to make it! Severus huffed to himself and tried to turn but the pain in his side prevented any kind of movement.
"Psst." Severus looked around and saw nothing.
"Psst, Professor!" Annoyed, Severus swung his head around gingerly and scanned the front of the bars, but again found nothing.
"Potter!" He barked quietly, "Quit your foolish games and remove that cloak at once!"
Two heads suddenly appeared out of thin air, bobbing around with excitement.
"We got them Sn-Professor." Potter exclaimed and opened the cloak farther to reveal many small vials glinting in the torch light.
"Will you cease your jabbering and pass them to me." He snarled at the black haired boy in front of him. He watched as Potters young face crumpled into one of distaste and he smirked, why should he care if Potter was angry? Longbottom, behind the boy, was pale and his eyes shifted from spot to spot down the corridor.
"Longbottom!" He snapped and the boys eyes carefully snapped to the dark man sitting in the exact same position he had been in when they left him.
"Y-yes Professor?" The boy said, still frozen on the spot with his eyes shifting back to the corridor.
Severus sighed in exasperation. "What have you done this time?" He snarled as his gaze also drifted towards the corridor.
"There's no one there!" A voice shouted down from the hall.
"Keep looking! There a sneaky bunch if they've gotten past us!" Another Death Eater shouted as footsteps accompanied the voices down the hall.
Longbottom jumped as the sound of their approaching footsteps echoed off the walls. He grabbed Potters arm in a pathetic attempt to shield himself.
"What have you done?" Severus hissed at the pair. Potters anger disappeared and was replaced with a look of fear, but only for a moment. His green eyes flashed in the dim light and he pulled out his wand.
"Idiot boy! Put that thing away and put the cloak back on!" Severus said with a tinge of panic to his voice. He began to cough; the excitement and anxiety settled in his chest had caused a shortage of breath to his already damaged lungs. He watched through half lidded eyes as Potter gazed at him with slight concern; trust Potter to pretend like he cared. How typical.
The boys quickly replaced the cloak over their heads as three Death Eaters walked down the hallway. They stopped to glance in Severus' cell and kept on going.
"Potter, hand me those vials!" Severus said hurriedly and, out of thin air, came ten small vials sliding across the floor at him. He gingerly picked them up one by one and –careful not to move his injured body- he scrutinized each label. He felt the tingling sensation of being watched and turned his head to see two curious eyes staring at him from the opening of the cloak. Severus rolled his eyes and looked closely at the labels. He selected two out of the ten, uncorked them and drank them quickly. He felt warmth spread through his body and a soothing heat settle in his aching muscles.
Then his bones went cold, ice cold.
He wanted to scream but nothing came out of his mouth other than the sound of his chattering teeth. His comfort of only moments ago disappeared and was replaced with an ache that threatened to overcome his body. Severus tried to repress the agony by reminding himself that that specific healing potion was meant to heal within seconds, so it was bound to be painful but he had had enough of pain. He had been in pain for the past few days and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep it off.
After a few more seconds of pain, the relief started to set in. He felt his body shudder involuntarily as his broken bones set themselves into place and his open wounds resealed themselves. His wounds weren't all healed but the second potion he took would numb the pain so he wouldn't notice until a couple of hours, he wanted to save the rest for Claire and her father.
Setting the vials on the ground, he stood up to his full height and stretched his arms and legs out as far as they would go. He heard a couple of satisfying pops before resettling his hands on his hips to glare threateningly at the two boys on the other side of the bars. They looked at him with slightly open mouths but shut them quickly as he advanced menacingly towards the end of the cell. Severus gripped the bars on either side of him and leaned his forehead against the cool metal.
"Are you hurt?" He asked in a neutral tone while guarding his eyes.
"What?" Potter asked looking completely baffled.
"I asked if you were hurt." Severus said through gritted teeth, he was trying to be calm but Potter was pushing his luck. He didn't want the boys injured or it would hinder their escape.
"…No." Potter said hesitantly with suspicion written all over his face. Severus rolled his eyes the boy's insolence. He shifted his eyes over to Longbottom and was about to ask the boy the same question when Longbottom's eyes suddenly shifted to the floor and a faint reddish hew graced his cheeks.
"I-I'm fine s-sir." He stuttered out.
"Good." Severus huffed and suddenly reached his hand through the bars, palm up.
"Your wand, Potter." Severus said and crooked his index finger impatiently.
The look of pure shock on Potters face was priceless.
"What for?" Potter asked, still in shock.
"Oh, I suppose the famous Potter would know exactly how to get me out of a magically sealed cell in the middle of the Dark Lords secret hide out. Forgive me for underestimating your superior skill." Severus drawled sarcastically.
He watched in slight amazement as Longbottoms lip quirked into a repressed smile. Potter was still glaring at him and he wished he could just strangle the child.
"Do you want to be caught by the Dark Lord any time soon? If not I suggest you hand me your wand." Severus hissed at the boy and he watched as Potter grudgingly placed the smooth wooden stick into the palm of his hand.
"Stand aside." Severus drawled and both boys moved to the right of the small cell.
"Repairo." Severus murmured and his shredded clothes automatically sewed themselves together. He turned with renewed strength and even though Potters wand didn't work as well as his own, it would still do.
"Reducto." Severus called out and the bars of his cell flew off their hinges and crashed into the wall behind. There really was no special way to do it, and unfortunately no quiet way either. Severus quickly gathered up the remaining vials and headed out of the smoke covered entry. He heard the boys coughing in front of him and he quickly ushered them forward.
"Hey! I could have done that myself!" Potter whined and held out his hand for his wand back. Severus simply smirked at him and kept walking.
"Snape! Give me my wand back! Is this a trap?" Potter yelled quite loudly. Severus wheeled around and pointed Potters wand against his neck. He leaned his face close enough to Potters and whispered threateningly in his ear.
"If this were a trap, Potter, you would be dead by now." He sneered; he watched as Potter gulped quietly and he turned swiftly to stalk down the hallway.
"We are going to be ambushed in about a minute. Stay behind me, do not shoot any spells and do not call attention to yourselves. On second thought, stay under the cloak." Severus said hurriedly. He didn't bother glancing back to see whether they had been listening to him or not.
"Potter, did you grab the plant?" Severus asked roughly, as he jogged down the hallway.
"Yes." Potter snapped.
"Yes what Potter? We may not be at school but may I remind you that you are in my presence and are currently without a wand?"
"Yes, sir." Potter said through gritted teeth. A few moments later there were swirls of black from all around, Severus barely had time to glimpse Potter and Longbottom drape the cloak around them when the first curse was fired.
"Conjunctivitis!" Severus yelled out and the Death Eater in front of him dropped his wand in a desperate attempt to regain his eyesight.
"Stupefy!" He heard from behind him, he was about to dodge when he realised that the spell had come from thin air. He was going to kill those boys.
"Avada kadavra!" One of the Death Eaters shouted out, the spell was aimed for him but unbeknown to the Death Eater, it was about to hit the two cloaked figures in front of him. Severus quickly grabbed where he desperately hoped their collars were and yanked them out of the way, being just able to dodge the curse himself.
Another chorus of stupefy was heard from thin air and two more Death Eaters dropped to the ground. There was only one left and before either person could attack, he disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.
"Idiots! Did I not ask you not to fire any spells! You were almost MURDERED! Does that mean anything to either or you?!" Severus barked at the pair. He felt foolish, for if anyone else were in the hallway at the moment they would assume he was yelling at himself or no one in particular. Two heads slowly appeared from beneath the cloak to look at him sheepishly.
"Potter give Longbottom his wand back." Severus ordered and turned to continue down the hall.
"How did he know I took it?" He heard Potter whisper to the other boy as they walked along the corridor.
"Because Longbottom doesn't have a back bone, now come along before more of them show up!" Severus hissed at the pair and started off at a trot down the hall.
The boys glanced at each other and followed their potions master.
Severus was getting lost, he had travelled these corridors many times before but he had been unconscious when they had dropped them off in the cell. He wasn't sure which one she was in. Their journey through the many damp and dim halls was silent. The boys didn't talk and Severus was thanking the Gods, his patience were running out, he didn't know if he could stand their chatter.
Severus was about to continue straight down the hallway when the tunnel to his left caught his attention. He didn't know what it was, maybe he had heard a sound but his feet drew him down the left corridor. He continued walking until he heard hushed voices. He couldn't make them out but excitement and adrenaline were pumping through his veins. She was so close, he could hold her again, keep her safe and they could leave this place together with their lives.
"Shh, there coming back." He heard the sweetest softest voice in the history of magic whisper to her father. He felt his heart thud loudly in his chest as his fingers twitched, wishing they could hold her again.
He finally reached the cell and peered inside. Samuel looked at him in shock and Claire stared wide eyed around her, not being able to tell who was there.
"Claire." He whispered and her reaction was immediate.
"Severus!" She cried and threw herself at the bars, she reached out to him and he gladly took her hands in his own.
"Where were you? Where did they take you? A-are y-you alright? H-how did you get o-out?" She finished in a sob of relief. She clung to him as if he was about to die but he let her. She deserved to feel safe, she deserved to feel happy and hope that they would escape with their lives.
"Heh-hem" He heard from behind, he ignored Potter, he didn't care what the little brat thought.
"I need you to stand back ok?" He whispered to her and let go of her hands. He watched as her bottom lip quivered as she released him. Samuel pulled her out of the way and pushed her gently against a cold wall.
Severus raised Potters wand and once again used the blasting curse to send the bars crashing against the opposite wall.
"Why can't he use Alohomora?" Longbottom whispered from behind while covering his ears.
"Because there isn't a lock on it, you can only unlock something if you have something that is locked." He sneered but the boys noticed that his sneer wasn't as powerful as it could have been.
"Neville?" Claire asked as she emerged from the smoky room.
"Professor Laurel! We knew you'd be here." Longbottom stated and rushed over to her. Much to Severus' distaste, she hugged the boy and reached for Potter as well. Once she had finally unleashed the brats she walked up to him and slipped her arms around his waist. She leaned her face up to his own and kissed him softly on the lips. Severus' eyelids fluttered and he pulled her tight against him when she gasped.
"Claire? Where are you hurt? I have some potions for you, here." He handed her three of the small potions vials, these would heal her a little better than he had healed himself. He watched as she ran her fingers over the tops of them and then opened them to take a drink. Once Severus was reassured that she had taken all three he handed three to Samuel and stored the last two for emergency only.
Severus pulled Claire back to his side and quickly ran his fingertips over her body, assuring himself that she was alright.
"Severus, S-stop it! You're t-tickling me!" Claire giggled and pushed away from him.
"Shouldn't we be leaving right about now?" Potter asked with a furrowed brow.
"For once in your miserable life Potter, I believe you are right." Severus stated and helped them off towards an exit.
They started out at a slow pace until shouts were heard down some of the corridors. They hurried there steps until every entrance held loud footsteps.
"They've cornered us!" Longbottom said frightfully.
"If only I had my bracelet!" Claire growled fiercely. Severus glanced at her, her eyes were no longer dull but full of life and her cheeks were flushed with health rather than deathly pale.
"You mean this one?" Neville asked in a whisper as he pulled out a long silver cylinder out of his cloak. The shouts were becoming louder and they had nowhere to run. Severus and Longbottom were the only ones with wands, they didn't stand a chance.
"Where did you get that?" Potter whispered to the other boy.
"I found it in the lab, I suppose they forgot it there." Neville said and shrugged. Suddenly from three entranceways came five to seven Death Eaters in each and the five of them were stuck in the middle. They quickly made a circle around Potter and Longbottom, Severus Claire and Samuel each faced an entrance. Severus watched out of the corner of his eye as Neville quietly slipped Claire's bracelet into her hand.
"Rose" He heard Claire murmur as quietly as possible just as the Death Eaters all pointed their wands at them. Severus felt a blast of air pass over his face and dared to hope it was Claire's wand.
"Cover your eyes!" Claire shouted.
Suddenly, without even knowing what was going on, there was an extremely bright light all around. Severus tried to block out the light but it burned his eyes. He heard some people shouting and screaming but as soon as it had appeared, it was gone. Severus blinked several times and soon the corridors came into focus, there were no more Death Eaters standing, they were all unconscious.
Severus whipped around and saw Claire, wand in the air with triumph in her eyes.
"Let's get out of here!" Samuel called out and the five ran full tilt, Severus in the lead, towards the exit. Severus found a wall that was the separation between the inside and the outside of the building. He quickly flicked his wand and the wall melted before their eyes.
They heard more angry shouts behind them, Severus ushered the two boys out first then Claire and then Samuel. He was the last out before he heard that last thing he wanted to hear.
"The Dark Lord is coming! You can't escape him!" Shouted the Death Eaters behind him. Anxiety grasped his stomach as he tried not to picture what was in store for them if they were caught.
He jumped through the hole and his feet hit soil. He let the cool breeze brush across his face for just a moment before he quickly followed behind the retreating black figures before him. They finally reached a clearing, the moonlight shone brightly through the tress that they were resting on to catch their breath.
"How do we get back?" Potter asked, still taking large gulps of air.
"Well how did you get here in the first place, son?" Samuel asked him and lifted himself off of the tree next to the boy. Severus watched as Potter lifted a small green ring out of his robe pocket and handed it over to Samuel.
"Ah yes the port key, I invented this you know, it wasn't too long ago actually, the Death Eaters had me make it for them to—"
"Dad, maybe another time?" Claire asked, it was obvious she was anxious to get as far away as possible.
"Well, all I meant to say was that you can relocate this port keys direction without going through the complicated process of doing so. You can even activate it without the ministry all over your back! Genius isn't it?" Samuel finished proudly and smirked at her.
"So, you're saying we can relocate this to take us back to Hogwarts without actually setting it up?"
"Yup, you've got the concept."
"OK let's go!" Potter yelled out in excitement.
"Well, ok, just hold on a minute…I'm trying to remember how." Samuel said and rubbed his wrinkled forehead.
"You mean to say, you've invented something that could possibly save our lives at this very moment… and you can't remember how it works?" Severus drawled unenthused.
"It's difficult to remember these things when you're under the imperious curse, my boy." Samuel answered calmly turning the green studded ring around in the palm of his hand.
Suddenly a large black cloud formed in the distance, covering the moons rays.
"That's him." Severus whispered. At that very moment, Potter doubled over and grabbed his scar.
"Harry? Harry! Are you alright?" Longbottom asked in concern. Severus felt Claire grasp his hand firmly, he turned to look at her and she simply stared ahead, her jaw set and her eyes hard.
Potter continued to gasp in pain as the dark cloud drew nearer.
"I've got it!" Samuel declared triumphantly and turned the green crystal clockwise one time. The ring glowed a faint yellow and started to vibrate in the old man's hands.
"Everybody grab hold!" Samuel declared. Four more pairs of hands added themselves to the ring and Samuel said the final word that would take them home.
"Safety." Severus felt the familiar tug behind his navel as his world went spinning away only to be replaced the most beautiful place he had ever seen.
Hogwarts.
A/N- Hey guys! I really hate exams, they take up all my story time. Anyway I really hope you all enjoyed, please leave me some more reviews I really need the encouragement to finish this, thx again guys!