Back again guy's!! Wow, I sure got some reviews for those last couple of chapters … mainly people telling me how evil I am for leaving such a cliffy. Well … I'll just prepare for the influx this chapter is going to cause…(hint hint).

Okay … After this Chapter, I've no idea how long it will be until my next post, as I'll be heading every which way during Xmas/New year so, don't worry if there's a long wait. That being said, there could even be another post only a couple of days after this one, but don't hold your breath. It all depends on how the Muses are working.

Don't forget to review for me please!!

Chapter Thirty Six: A Parents Heartache

The door flew inwards, crashing into furniture as it hurled across the room, before smashing into the wall opposite. A shrill scream was clearly heard over the sound of splintering wood, along with confused and fearful shouting.

Severus darted into the room and set his eyes immediately to search for his son. To his left stood Petunia Dursley, cowering over near the fireplace, her arms over her head for protection from flying projectiles. He ignored her. A strangled bellow made Snape whip around, only to feel himself freeze, a chilling horror sweeping through him, stilling his heart, as he saw what lay before him.

Dudley Dursley stood next to a smashed table, holding one of the broken legs like a club. What remained of their dinner lay strewn across the floor. But it was what lay just beside him that made Snape inhale sharply.

Vernon Dursley was kneeling next to a prone Harry, a bloodied steak knife hovering just over his chest. Harry was gasping for breath, clutching at the wounding on his torso. He'd been stabbed more than once. Snape felt something inside him snap and let loose a bellow of insane fury. Before he knew it, he'd thrown himself at the man, only to stop dead when Vernon pulled Harry's head back and set the knife at his throat.

"You bloody bastard!" Snape growled, feeling Remus and Dumbledore walk up beside him. "He may have saved your lives by bringing you here, and you try and kill him for it!"

Vernon only grinned maliciously at them, pressing the blade into Harry's neck harder. "He may have," he answered, "It's not as though we asked him to do it though, is it?"

Snape blanched at the statement, realizing that that was his original thought when Harry had taken the bullet meant for him. Had he really been as cruel as these beasts had to the boy? So selfish as to not see the nobility of the act?

"I won't die, dad," Harry's voice said in his head, making him glance down into the eyes full of pain. "I'll just make it look as though I have. We'll use Hermione's idea, so then I can be your son in name and body…"

Snape was having an inner battle. He knew now that Harry was in no danger of dieing, but the pain was real. That he could see. He hated seeing the condition Harry was in, reminding him so forcefully of the night he'd delivered him from these very people … the night that everything had changed…

"Don't do anything rash now, Mr Dursley," Dumbledore's voice interrupted his musings. "Think of the consequences if you follow through with this…"

Vernon sneered at them, "Does it really matter? Either way, I'll be rid of this piece of filth forever, so any punishment would be worth it…"

"He's your nephew!" Remus exclaimed, appalled at Vernon's declaration.

"Not mine," Vernon growled, tugging Harry's head back a little more, making him gasp lightly as the pressure on his neck increased again. "He's not my blood, so why should I care?"

"Charge him, dad … he'll do it then, and we'll deal with the rest later. Just don't kill him…"

"One less freak to deal with," Vernon sneered, looking down at Harry with unhidden glee as he tightened his grip on the knife.

"NO!!" Snape bellowed, dashing forward just as Harry told him, unable to break the eye contact with his son as Vernon immediately drew the sharp blade across the soft flesh below his jaw. He saw Harry's eyes cloud over with pain, his mouth opening in a silent scream as the wound poured forth a crimson flow, spilling over the pale skin and pooling on the stone floor beneath him.

So intent on Vernon, Snape failed to see Dudley swing the piece of wood he held at his head, only registering the fact after he felt his head explode with pain, reeling backwards with the force of the blow.

He heard two faint voices shout out "Expelliarmus!" and "Stupefy!" before regaining his senses and picking himself up off the floor, feeling something warm trickle down the side of this face. He ignored the feeling, only focused on getting over to Harry. He saw Remus and Albus tie the two men up with conjured ropes, but he didn't care about that.

Feeling somewhat unsteady on his feet, Snape scrambled over to Harry, feeling his throat constrict at the sight of him, even though he'd been told by his son that he would be fine. He looked dead to him, and his currently scrambled mind could think of nothing else.

"Harry?" he choked out, trying to not look at the bruising and blood caking him. He gingerly reached out a hand and brushed his fingers over Harry's cheek, flinching at how cold he felt. "Harry?" he repeated, inexplicably feeling his chin quiver when he still had no response. He felt his eyes burn terribly and bit his lip, taking deep and shuddering breaths…

"Ouch…" a voice Snape recognised as Harry's echoed faintly in his mind. "That stung…"

Severus felt the dam burst at the weak voice in his head, and impulsively gathered Harry's limp body in his arms, pressing the boys head to his chest as his arms enfolded him. For the first time in years, Severus felt hot tears splash down his cheeks, rocking back and forth as he wept with undiluted relief.

He felt a hand on each shoulder and looked up briefly at the two persons that were gazing down at him. A part of him felt incredibly shamed, sitting there, bawling like a child in front of his Mentor and old school enemy … yet another couldn't care. Harry was alive and that was all that mattered. Severus quickly surmised that Harry must have told both Remus and Albus of his intended plan already, for they to were playing along and looking crushed … even though the pain on their faces was most likely forged from the boy's bodily condition. He felt Remus kneel down beside him, looking over his shoulder.

"Keep it up, Severus, and people might think you cared," he whispered, though his tone was no longer sharp, but warm and accepting. "Wouldn't that be a shame…?"

***

Later on that night, Harry had been laid out on one of the Hospital beds, hidden behind the screens. Although those present in the Infirmary knew that Harry was most certainly alive, the sight of him was decidedly unnerving. The Dursley's had been bound in one of the more secure areas of the Dungeons, and now the staff were just waiting on the Minister, along with medical examiners from St Mungo's, summoned to study Harry's body.

To say that Fudge had been disbelieving of Harry's supposed death was a blatant understatement. It wasn't until Severus had suggested that he actually come and see the body that the Minister began to sober.

Minerva had practically had a stroke when the group had burst through the Infirmary doors, and she caught sight of Harry's physical condition. She'd been beside herself with panic, demanding what had happened to her student, and almost fainting when she'd heard Harry tell them all in their minds that he was fine … just a bit stuck.

A little after eight o'clock that night, the Minister and Healers had arrived, and Poppy solemnly lead them all behind the curtains. While they were in there, Tonks and Kingsley Shackbolt arrived on pretence of escorting the Dursley's to a secure facility, but were actually there as Members of the Order who'd heard about Harry's supposed death through the grapevine.

"Albus, this is disastrous!" Fudge exclaimed in a panic, darting from the enclosed area, the two Healers following him, looking almost crushed. "How on earth could he be careless enough to let Muggles murder him, when even You-Know-Who couldn't?!" Fudge failed to notice the looks of disgust thrown at him from all directions. "This is a political nightmare! He can't be dead, it's just not possible!"

"I assure you, Minister," one of the Healers spat, "The body on that bed most assuredly makes it possible. Harry Potter is dead."

The other Healer turned to Dumbledore, apparently holding back her tears, trying to remain professional. "Headmaster, shall we begin the arrangements for Mr Potter's burial?"

Dumbledore smiled at the young lady sadly, "It would be most appreciated, thank you. Might I request that Mr Potter's body be held here, though, until the proceedings have been finalized? It would give those of us closest to him the chance to say farewell, before the public ceremony…"

"Of course, Headmaster," the young male Healer replied. "We understand completely. We will return to retrieve Mr Potter on the eve of his ceremony, if that is alright with you?"

Dumbledore nodded. "That is fine, thank you. We shall keep his body in stasis to preserve it, while you make the proper arrangements. Don't worry about cleaning him up or preparing him. We'll take care of that ourselves."

"As you wish, Headmaster," the man replied, bowing slightly. "We'll notify you once a date has been settled. We'll take our leave now, Headmaster, and may we give you our deepest condolences."

Albus merely nodded at the two Healers, before getting Remus to show them to the Apparition border, leaving Fudge with them, looking almost at a loss. Severus, was thankful that they'd thought to draw the curtains around Hermione's bed before the Minister had arrived. They didn't need queries into how the young witch had gotten into her condition, nor why she was at the school in the first place.

"This can't be happening," Fudge murmured, looking dazed. "What will the population do? Everyone thought of Potter as – "

"A raving lunatic and someone to ridicule, no thanks to your ridiculous propaganda last year!" Snape cut in, seething at the Minister. "He spent most of last year being shunned by the public that had fawned over him a moment beforehand, only to be returned to the spotlight on a positive note, after watching his Godfather die right in front of him. You only believed his story after seeing the Dark Lord with your own eyes!"

Fudge puffed himself up, drawing himself to his full height, (which was all of five foot four) and glared at the potions master. "I do not need the approval of a Deatheater, no matter how reformed Dumbledore thinks of you! And why do you suddenly care? You despised that boy like no other!"

Snape took a threatening step forward, snarling venomously at the portly man. "I just watched as that boy was stabbed to death by the people he had been living with for the past fifteen years! His own Uncle, slit – his – throat! Don't you think that equates to some form of feeling on the boys behalf?"

"No worse than you'd have seen or done before though – "

"That's enough, Cornelius," said Dumbledore sharply, placing a settling hand on Severus's shoulder at the same time, preventing the man from leaping at the Minister. "Severus need not answer to anyone any longer, and you know it. What we do need to focus on however, are the punishments for the Dursley's, and their active participation in Harry's murder."

"Yes, why were they here in the first place, Albus?" Cornelius asked huffily. "The boy, to? Was there an actual reason for it, or were you just playing favourites?"

"Absolutely no respect for the dead!" Madame Pomfrey hissed, turning red with checked fury. "You speak as though it was Harry's fault he was killed!"

"Well it probably was, knowing him," Fudge remarked rather offhandedly. "Probably provoked that Muggle beyond endurance? He was certainly pig headed enough…"

Fudge trailed off when Snape stepped forward and fisted his collar in his hand, leaning down to eye level, leaving only an inch or two between their noses.

"I'm going to give you ten seconds to apologise for that remark, leave, and prepare for the Dursley's trial, or you shall experience the euphoric sensation of flying from this building without a broom…"

Fudge looked at Snape as though he was off his rocker, before throwing a desperate glance at Kingsley, who was curiously twiddling his thumbs.

"Shackbolt! You're the Head Auror, restrain this idiot!"

Kingsley looked around at the Minister, appearing as though he'd just noticed him. "I beg your pardon Minister, but, what seems to be the problem?"

Fudge glared at the Auror, who was still looking quite clueless. "He's threatening to kill me, Shackbolt! Arrest him!"

Kingsley, furrowed his brow, looked at Snape, then stuck his pinkie in his ear and wriggled it forcedly, removed it and calmly said, "I apologise, Sir, but I must have missed it. Nothing I can do."

Fudge looked apoplectic, but his face switched to terrified when Snape started to drag him towards the Infirmary windows.

"Dad, you're such a meanie," Harry's amused voice scolded humorously in Severus's mind. "No need to make the spineless Git any greyer than he is already."

'You did hear what he just said about you, don't you?' Severus replied angrily, now opening a window slowly. 'He just blamed you for provoking that monstrosity of a Muggle into harming you!'

There was a pause in which Snape merely raised an eyebrow at the trembling Minister. "Last chance," he said smoothly.

"At least I'll know what the rest of the world really thought of me," Harry mentioned, a fragment of sadness seeping through, making Severus soften considerably on the inside. "How many people get that chance, huh?"

'Only ever you, son,' Severus replied, sighing and slamming the window shut, tossing Fudge roughly to the side. "You're too pathetic, Fudge," he snarled. "Not even worth the effort of throwing you out…"

Fudge spluttered incoherently as he staggered to his feet, trying to regain whatever composure he'd had to start with. He marched up to Snape, his face full of malice increased two-fold when Snape smirked at him, then poked the Slytherin in the chest.

"How dare you treat the Minister of Magic in such a manner!" he bellowed, spit flying from his mouth. "You have the same disrespect of Authority as that miserable whelp of a boy did!!!"

"And to reiterate what said boy announced most satisfyingly: I give respect where it is due, Fudge. That does not include you…" Snape declared quite smugly, feeling himself smirk when he heard Harry chuckle at him in his head.

"Cornelius, I recommend that you take your leave while you can," said Dumbledore politely. "We've had a most trying evening and it is taking it's toll on all of us. I eagerly await any information regarding the Dursley family's incarceration. Good Evening, Cornelius." Albus then promptly ignored the Minister and turned to Kingsley and Tonks. "I would very much appreciate it if you would remove the Dursley's from the Dungeons now, Kingsley, Tonks. Infestation is not something I am entirely fond of … so, if you would remove it for me? Thank you."

The two Aurors nodded, looking most pissed, before striding quickly from the Infirmary.

"Dad, what's Fudge doing in here with me?" Harry asked suddenly, making Severus whirl towards the bed his son lay. Sure enough, the Minister was hovering over the boy, the curtains open and – his wand out? "Wait a minute…? Shit! Dad that's not Fudge!"

'What?' Severus asked back, surprised, yet a deeper part of him grew fearful. Harry was hardly ever wrong with his instincts, especially after his Awakening. Before he could say anything though, he saw Fudge shift and change in much the same manner that Harry was capable of, revealing someone he thought was already locked away in a high security cell.

"Oh god," he breathed, fumbling for his wand as he saw the person before him grin back at him, his arm already raised toward Harry.

"Tut, tut, Severus," Lucius Malfoy sneered, his voice startling Remus and Albus, announcing his presence. "You've grown careless. You should have remembered what our Lord gave me. Of course, the luck of having our esteemed Wormtail held in the cell beside mine, relaying everything he saw in Potter the morning he captured him … well … to say that this will be most rewarding would be an understatement…"

Severus cursed at his forgetfulness. He'd forgotten that Malfoy and Wormtail had been of the very few that had survived the testing phase of the Avatars powers. Malfoy had received the ability to Shift and the strange night vision, while Wormtail had only been granted the test of seeing the Magical Essence of everything. This was bad!

"I wonder just how far along our young Avatar has developed?" Malfoy continued, ignoring Dumbledore and Remus, focusing only on Severus. "Another part of me wonders who exactly fathered him? I guess we'll never know…" He grinned again, his grey eyes glinting. "After all … you can't kill someone who's already dead now, can you?"

Severus immediately drew his wand, feeling Albus and Remus do the same. He heard Harry start to say something in his mind, but it was cut off before the first word could form. Before he could even raise his wand to the blonde, he had turned back to face Harry, bellowing those two, heart stopping words.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!!!"