Chapter 38 - Sins & Regret

A month had passed since Severus discussed his plans with Selebi. He tried to prepare himself for what was coming, knowing that everything could end in an instant if he wasn't careful. But life always had a way of throwing some unforseen obstacle in his path.

It began when Dumbledore left the castle, the sky lit with all the colors of the setting sun as he made his way out onto the balcony. He was taking the boy with him, as they went in search of an object hidden within the seaside cliffs. They returned long after dark, the clock tower announcing the hour as twelve chimes rang out in the night.

Dumbledore stumbled, falling back against the wall the moment his feet touched the floor. He clutched his chest, the boy at his side looking at him with concern. He was almost in a panic when the elderly wizard slowly turned, his gaze drifting upwards as a pale, greenish glow lit the sky.

Time ground to a halt, his breath catching in his chest as Harry stared at the undulating bands of light that stretched across the sky. The streaks of light formed a glittering skull, its jaws open wide as an emerald serpent slithered through the air. It appeared as though the skull was laughing, its voice carrying on the winds that swept across the grounds. It took him a moment to realize that the ominous laugh was coming from somewhere else, somewhere closer to where they were standing.

"Go," Dumbledore rasped. "You must find Severus. Find him and bring him here at once."

"But - " Harry was cut off in mid-sentence.

"You swore to obey me, Harry. Quickly now, do as I say. I shall wait here."

Harry hesitated for a fraction of a second, taking one last look at the Headmaster before turning and running towards the spiral staircase. He didn't want to leave him here, but he wouldn't go back on his word. He only hoped he could find Severus in time.

As he sprinted downstairs, the figure on the Astronomy Tower began to move. The lone boy stepped out of the darkness, his grey eyes gleaming in the moonlight. He raised his hand, positioning his wand over Dumbledore's heart. But still the old man did not flinch. He knew better than to run from one as young as this. And although others might not see him for what he truly was, the Headmaster could see through his disguise.

.oOo.

Harry was out of breath by the time he discovered Severus patrolling the halls on the fifth floor. If he was thinking he would have realized that there was something unusual about the dark man being on the fifth floor at this time of night. But now wasn't the time to think about that. He chest was on fire as he clutched a stitch in his side, approaching the professor and trying to speak between ragged gasps.

"It's Dumbledore," he managed to say, still panting and out of breath. "At the Astronomy Tower. Someone's cast the dark mark over the tower." He swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before continuing. "He's hurt, or sick. I don't know what happened to him. But when we came back Dumbledore could hardly move. He needs help. He told me to get you."

So this was it. The moment that they'd had been preparing for had finally arrived.

The dark man turned, moving without hesitation as he headed back the way Harry had come. He didn't know what he would find when he reached Dumbledore, but from the sound of it the Headmaster was in serious need of assistance.

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed. "I'm coming with you."

"You'll do no such thing, Potter," he sneered, glaring at him from atop the staircase. "Stay where you are. It isn't safe, and I doubt the Headmaster would want you risking your life anymore than you already have this evening."

The boy watched as Severus disappeared up the stairs. He lingered in the hallway, wondering what Dumbledore had said to make Severus think that he'd been risking his life this evening. Obviously there was more to this than meets the eye. And being the bold, disobedient Gryffindor that he was, Harry decided to follow him.

He took one last look at the darkened corridor, making sure he was alone before extinguishing the light in his wand. There was enough moonlight that he could see to find his way through the halls, and the last thing he wanted was for Severus to discover that he was following him. He'd just begun his climb up the long, winding staircase when the shadows shifted beside him, and he spun around, his heart racing as he spied a silvery glint from the corner of his eye.

For a moment he thought it might be Peeves looking to pester some unsuspecting student. But then he saw it, a boy whose eyes shined like sapphires in the night, and the same laughter he'd heard earlier filled the hall. He had barely a second to register what was happening when the boy vanished into the shadows, and he was struck from behind with a jet of red light.

.oOo.

The staircase seemed longer than it was before, the sound of his ragged breath and pounding heart loud in his ears as he ran, step by step, towards the Astronomy Tower. Was it an illusion? Or was his mind simply playing tricks on him? Either way Severus couldn't help but feel as though he was getting nowhere, the stairs stretching out before him, forming an endless path that seemed to go on forever.

He clung to the railing, his sight swimming from lack of oxygen. Oh how the great have fallen, far from where he was nine months ago before he fell victim to Novox's curse. If he could shed the physical limitations brought about by the aftereffects of said curse he'd be fine. But all forms of dark magic leave behind traces, or cause irreversible damage that hinders the victim long after the affliction has passed. This became apparent as he went to take another step, his legs weak and strength failing, and tripped, his head striking the sixth step up from where he landed on the staircase.

His vision blurred, his wand slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor as he was suddenly plunged into darkness. He could feel the ache in his temple pulsing in time with heart, the carpet beneath him doing little to soften the blow. His fingers snaked across his face, coming away with drops of crimson that oozed from a gash on his forehead. Severus swore under his breath, looking upwards as the sound of voices reached his ears.

He was close, but not close enough to make out what was being said. Severus reached for the length of birch that was precariously balanced on the edge of the step, then used his remaining strength to grip the banister and pull himself up off the floor. His wand held in front of him, Severus continued on his way, heedless of the growing pain behind his right eye, until he reached the top of the tower.

The door swung open, creaking on its rusty hinges. His gaze fell upon the massive snake hovering above the tower, its pale light bathing his features in an eerie glow. He'd forgotten how many times the incantation for that particular spell slid past his lips, his comrades running, fleeing the scene before the Aurors arrived.

Severus stepped forward into the moonlight, and spied Draco standing in the shadows, his arm outstretched with his wand pointed at Dumbledore. The boy was trembling, the look in his eyes clearly stating that he didn't want to be here. There was a half second pause when their eyes meet in the wavering light from the leering skull above, and Draco started.

"Snape!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide as he turned to face the professor.

"Draco, what are you doing?" Severus made to come forward, but Draco's sudden cry halted his progress.

"He's going to kill her! It's Novox," he said, his eyes darting upwards as though he were expecting a sudden attack from above. He appeared to be on the verge of nervous collapse, his wand still trained on Dumbledore as he spoke. "He's here, in the castle. He said he was going to lure you out in the open and kill Selebi while you were distracted."

The words "kill Selebi" were all that registered in his mind. Severus froze, his heart plummeting into the pit of his stomach as the image of her smiling face flashed before his eyes, only to be replaced with the sight of Lily's house not long after the Dark Lord took her life. He felt as though he werewere falling, down into the horrors of his past that were destined to repeat themselves.

"I tried to stop him," Draco continued, his lip quivering like a frightened child. "I swear I did. But he's completely mad. He kept changing his plans every other day until I had no idea what he was talking about." He paused, taking a deep breath as he tried forcing himself to remain calm. "He wants you to choose between Dumbledore and Selebi."

"And you expect me to believe that you are capable of murder?" If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation Severus would have laughed. The boy had been trying all year to accomplish the task the Dark Lord had given him, and all he had to show for it was a discarded jug of tainted mead that never made it past the Headmaster's desk.

"He is correct, Draco," Dumbledore stated calmly. "We are aware of your attempts, Severus and I, and it would appear as though your heart isn't in it. You are not a killer. Killing is not as easy as the innocent believe. That is why you did not kill Selebi when you were given the chance. And you've had more than one opportunity to do so. No." He paused, his serene gaze drifting towards the skull and serpent in the sky. "If you meant her harm, you would not have tried to warn Severus."

Draco appeared to wilt right before their very eyes. His hand dropped a fraction of an inch, and suddenly a flash of green streaked across the sky like a comet, striking Dumbledore in chest and blasting him clean off his feet. Draco gasped as he watched the Headmaster's body become airborne, the light leaving his eyes as he tumbled over the parapet to the cold ground below.

"I know I couldn't trust you!" a voice shouted from somewhere far below. "You poor fool! Must I do everything, Draco?"

"Novox." The word left him in the form of a whisper, falling from his lips and Draco collapsed onto his knees, staring at the empty space where Dumbledore had stood just moments ago. His wand slid from his fingers, hitting the cold stones beneath his feet. None of this felt real anymore. It couldn't be. How could Dumbledore, the greatest wizard in over a century, be defeated by that horrible boy?

Severus ran towards the edge of the parapet, gazing out into the vast darkness that spread before him, and saw a lone figure perched atop the nearest tower. There stood Novox, his silver cloak billowing out behind him on the wind, wand in hand as he stood with his arms folded across his chest.

He looked just like his mother, his eyes alight with the flames of madness. Blue sparks flew from the tip of his wand, and he exploded in a fit of laughter. "Yes, yes! I can see it now. Son of the Dark Lord kills Albus Dumbledore. I'll surpass my father, I'll destroy everything and become the greatest wizard that ever lived!"

"You're insane!" Severus shouted, the cold wind blowing strands of his dark hair into his face. He glanced over his shoulder at Draco, who appeared to be in a state of shock and was unable to move from his place on the floor.

"No!" Novox screeched. Flecks of blue lightning crackled in the air around him. "I've got to destroy more! I refuse to live in my father's shadow. The day will come when I prove myself to the world, and it starts right now, right here, with her!"

He spun around and pointed his wand at the door behind him. The door flew open, striking the wall with a resounding bang. A fiendish grin spread across his face as Selebi stepped out onto the balcony.

"Looking for someone?" asked Novox, his eyes rising towards his hairline. He laughed, looking fairly amused at the wide-eyed look of shock on Severus' face. "Oh, that's right. You didn't know she was missing, did you? No, I think not. Too busy running around, catering to Dumbledore's every need. Well, don't worry, Snape. I've relieved you of that burden. Now I think it's time that I relieve you of the burden of caring for this sorry excuse for a witch."