When memories come crashing down
Not even ten seconds after Death had transported them both back to the living room did everything suddenly come crashing down. All of a sudden Snape gasped in pain, eyes tightly screwed shut as he stumbled away from Death and collapsed.
"Severus?" Death asked in concern whilst hurriedly placing his scythe on his sofa.
Severus gripped his head as it throbbed and seemed to pulse when so much suddenly entered his brain in agonising waves-
-Compared to the angel's small and delicate hands the demon's hands were huge and clawed, one clawed hand placed upon a cracked skull. There was a large snake curled around its other arm staring at the angel on the other side with its fangs bared, and Snape felt once again that there was an empty space inside his memory. Narrowing his eyes at the snake he could not help but feel...that he should remember someone...
"The Dark lord," Snape hissed in distaste at the thing that ruined his life.
He remembered being at Hogwarts as a young student thinking the Dark Lord was perfect. He remembered joining him freely, excepting the mark that now scarred his left wrist. He remembered doing as he was ordered on many missions, tormenting innocent people with unforgiveable curses if necessary. He worked for the dark side alongside Lord Voldemort who saw him as his most trusted servant.
Some memories were in meetings and watching people being tormented, these triggering memories of the insane woman he hated the most—Bellatrix Lestrange. It was like a domino effect as in turn memories of Lucius Malfoy, his wife and his son—Draco Malfoy—were restored in his mind.
Before he could even recover he was suddenly attacked with another wave and tried so desperately to conceal his pain-
-For some reason this maze...reminded him of something...something that had happened once in his life. Yet with a frustrated sigh the maze rang a bell deep within his mind that he could not hear.
"The Twi-Wizard tournament at Hogwarts two years ago, when the Dark Lord returned," Pure hatred glistened in his eyes as he remembered everything from the Twi-Wizard tournament.
He remembered that two different schools had come to stay at Hogwarts: Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. He remembered one consisted of only men with fighting and strong tactics that played with fire, and remembered the other of only women in shining blue dresses who danced with butterflies around their heads.
He remembered watching his Slytheirn students with their mouths gaping open at the young ladies, and distinctly remembered that at seeing Draco do the same he had wandlessly stung him in the arm to snap him out of it. Draco had immediately turned to him at the staff table with a playful smirk.
He remembered the dragons, the lake with the mermaids and that horrible last trial of the maze. He remembered the Yule Ball and how much it had bored him, yet he had found the champagne a good choice. Severus chuckled at this memory before it changed into a growl of discomfort.
Death kneeled down beside the agonised man in comfort, placing a bone hand on the spirit's sweating forehead.
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Do you sssenssse that, Massster? Nagani hissed directly into the Dark Lord's ear.
In the middle of a Deatheater meeting the flexible snake had slithered from under the table, unnervingly curling around her master without warning. Even Voldemort himself had not expected such a sudden disturbance from his beloved pet. Everyone else at the large, shiny, black table grimaced at the cunning creature that would undoubtedly be their future demise.
My Preciousss, I'm afraid I do not underssstand. What are you referring to? Voldemort hissed delectably back, the beautiful tones of the language fluently flowing from his monstrous tongue. Demon red eyes glanced dreadfully to everyone in the room, everyone in the room gulping in fear...except Beatrix who just smiled evilly back.
SSSeverusss Massster. Dead, but not eternally lossst. Believe in me, Massster, he may return, Nagani reassured sickeningly into his ear, wrapping loyally around her Master's neck and staring with predatory eyes at the cowards poisoning her Master's ambition.
Being the animal you are you sssensse thingsss I cannot, I trussst your wordsss Nagani, the Dark Lord replied with great inner joy, perhaps something good would come of today.
Without warning he locked eyes with a trembling coward at the end of table and roared, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Bellatrix clapped her hands in wicked glee and laughed when the man hit the floor—dead. She licked her lips at the thrill, disgustingly licking the tips of her fingers as if imaginary blood stained them. She was truly, truly sadistic...and that was why Voldemort had her.
"Dinner Nagani," Was all Voldemort cooed to his pet before the snake lunged across the table and disappeared over the side to feast on the fresh corpse. Turning to the pale faces of his followers he snarled, "Let us continue, shall we?"
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-Trailing his eyes to the name plate at the bottom of the object he found himself confused, "James Potter? I...swear I know that name."
"Seriously...I forgot that arrogant swine! I thought that was impossible," smirked Severus, before it turned into a grimace of uncontrollable pain.
He remembered being a young boy, only in his first year...and being bullied by James Potter. He remembered being held upside down and embarrassed by everyone, and he snarled in rage at the man who had ruined his childhood and transformed it into a living nightmare.
Around James he distinguished Sirius Black, Wormtail and Remus Lupin, all causing a domino effect and filling his head with so many memories.
Most of the memories were from his childhood, Sirius Black ebbing James on whenever it came to humiliating him. However, an image of a very dishevelled Sirius in the shrieking shack, reminded him of how the man had been wrongfully put in Azkaban for twelve years.
He remembered Remus Lupin coming to teach the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, remembered his curse, remembered having to take over Defence Against the Dark Arts when Lupin was in bad shape.
He remembered the night Wormtail had been discovered as Ronald Weasley's rat, and remembered the chaos of Lupin transforming into a werewolf. Wormtail had got away that night...and that was what led to Voldemort's resurrection the next year.
Not even getting a chance to process everything he doubled over in pain whilst clutching his head-
-The angel was a beautiful woman, every hair and subtle detail of her perfect face carved to perfection...and a lily in her hair. Snape stared at it for moment...feeling as though he should remember something...
"Lily..." Severus whispered sorrowfully, the memories of him and her together causing more pain in his heart than what currently plagued his brain.
He remembered meeting her way before his time at Hogwarts...remembered how beautiful he thought she looked. She will always be beautiful to me, Severus thought heart-fully whilst his eyes softened in deep affection. He also remembered meeting her and her horrible sister, a sister that had been so cruel and jealous because Lily had magic.
He remembered Hogwarts and the sorting hat...and seeing her be put in the opposite House—Gryffindor. He was a Slytherin and always would be, but he longed to be by her side regardless, but James always said a filthy Slytherin should stay away from her.
Feeling rare tears prick his eyes he remembered that fateful night, the night he had turned up at the Potter's house...and saw her dead. He remembered holding her, crying for her, mourning for her. Why had he joined the dark side? Maybe if he had not joined she would still be alive, and maybe have even loved him instead of marrying James Potter.
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"Do you sense that, Minerva? That miniscule change in the atmosphere...something's changing," Albus Dumbledore asked, staring out at the window where the sun would set soon. Outside only a few clouds hovered and obstructed the clear sky.
"Do you think it is Severus, Albus?" The Transfiguration teacher shot up from her seat, almost spilling her tea, at Albus' words. "Perhaps he is not as dead as you say he is."
"Oh no, he's dead...but I feel like it won't be for long," Albus whispered, eyes narrowed as he slowly put a lemon drop into his mouth. "I hope I'm right."
McGonagall just raised a withered eyebrow at the old wizard. Deep down she was really starting to question his sanity, what Albus was suggesting was impossible. Someone coming back from the dead? It truly sounded insane...even for the old coot Albus Dumbledore.
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All of this triggered off the final person, the one person who had somehow wriggled his way through his barriers-
-Crossing his arms his eyebrows furrowed when he read the name on the metal plate, "Harry James Potter..."
Pain suddenly shot into his head as he tried so desperately hard to remember. However, no matter how hard he tried he just could not grasp an image, a voice, or a memory. Why, when he had read that name...did it feel like...he should remember someone?
"Because it is that insolent boy who has been lost in the forest with you for so long," Snape told himself warmly, curled up on the black and white rose patterned carpet beneath him in lingering agony. "And who has been an infuriating pain from day one."
He remembered seeing the baby laying there in the crib beside his dead mother, crying in fear, a lightning bolt scar slashed across his forehead. He remembered looking at him and swearing to Lily that he would forever protect her son...even though Harry was the son of James Potter.
He remembered meeting him in his first year in potions class, and in turn so many comical memories of his mishaps and disasters over the years settled in his mind. He remembered always being horrible to the boy to protect himself; he still was now in a sense, a particular fatherly figure known as Albus Dumbledore berating him for it on numerous occasions.
He remembered the boy believing it was him who was going to steal the Philosophers Stone in his first year, remembered the three headed dog Fluffy and being bitten by the blasted thing—now that had bloody hurt!
He remembered when McGonagall had boasted in the Staff room about how she had made Harry Potter—a First Year—a Gryffindor seeker in Quiditch. He had scowled in disbelief at the woman and had thought that what she had done was preposterous.
The first Quiditch match Potter had was one to remember, yes he had won but someone had bewitched his broom. He remembered trying to use a counter curse to save him...and a certain Granger setting his cloak alight—damn meddling twit!
He remembered the pure shock he had felt when the boy had spoken Parseltongue in his second year and how the crowd had gasped in complete shock as well.
He remembered the stolen potions ingredients and discovering a Polyjuice potion in the girl's old lavatory on the second floor, leaving it there to discover who the culprit was. He remembered the thrill he had felt at discovering it was Harry James Potter, but also remembered his curiosity as Harry and Ron transformed into the Slytherin's Goyle and Crabbe. He was most interested when the two intruders infiltrated the Slytherin Common room, and was even more surprised to overhear that they were trying to find out who the Air of Slytherin was.
He remembered being told the boy had found the chamber of secrets and had killed a basilisk, all to save Ginny Weasley because of Tom Riddle's diary that Lucius was foolish enough to put into her shopping basket in Diagon Alley.
The amount that happened in Harry's third year was unreal. He remembered seeing the boy from one of windows in Hogwarts as he flew a hippogriff around the lake, and remembered having to deal with an over dramatic Draco Malfoy when that same hippogriff attacked him. He remembered Lucius demanding to have the beast beheaded, but on the day the magical creature had mysteriously disappeared.
He distinctly remembered a certain Potter attacking him in the Shrieking Shack and how truly pissed off he was when he awoke and found everyone had gone. However, he remembered that hate quickly vanishing, when he protected the Golden Trio from Lupin the Werewolf outside the Womping Willow.
He remembered how icy cold his heart went when the Goblet of Fire suddenly spat out an extra name in the boy's fourth year...and that name being 'Harry Potter.' He remembered how scared the boy looked down in the Champion's Room, how confused he looked at having his name chosen.
He would always remember the Yule Ball and Harry's such uncoordinated dancing with one of the Patel sisters...and of course Ronald Weasley in his ghastly excuse for dress-robes.
He remembered how petrified the boy looked when he returned from the final trial. He looked so upset, so disturbed, as he clutched the dead body of his comrade Cedric Diggory, looking so out of it that for a single second he remembered feeling a tiny bit of sympathy. He remembered discovering Mad-eye Moody was actually Barty Crouch JR, the man having used his polyjuice ingredients...when Severus had fully accused Harry of stealing them. The look on that boy's face when this was discovered practically screamed 'you owe me an apology.'
Oh, how could he forget the boys fifth year of absolute chaos. He remembered the Ministry taking over and Dolores Umbridge who had brought hell to the school. He remembered the woman asking for his assistance and asking for Veritasrium, and him running out when it came to Potter. He remembered the boy saying 'he's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden.'
He remembered the Order of the Phoenix: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, Tonks, Moody, and obviously himself and some others. He remembered their meetings and how he found it difficult to sit in the same room as Black and Lupin—James Potter's most trusted and beloved friends. For he was not just on the dark side...he was a double agent.
He remembered being told of Sirius Black's death by Albus, being told how much Harry had been affected. It was true though, for the boy seemed an empty shell for so long after the death of his Godfather.
Harry was never alone however because of two very annoying best friends—Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley. He remembered Hermione being the smartest witch he had ever come across, although he would never admit that to her. Her potions were always top of the class, whereas Ron's and Harry's were near rock bottom.
He remembered always seeing the three—the Golden Trio—sitting at their Gryffindor table and laughing away. They were always together and because of this they strangely enough found trouble together.
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"Bloody hell have you done it yet?" Ron badgered impatiently to the little fairy-like sprite sitting with her alien eyes closed, cross-legged, on the table in the Gryffindor Common Room. "It has been days already!"
"Girl, can ya seriously shut him up! I am trying to concentrate here," Bell the Bildred growled in her diva like-voice, grip on the very familiar wand lying on the table never loosening—Harry's wand.
"Ronald, this sort of powerful magic takes time," Hermione assured. She placed a steady hand on his shoulder, seeing his desperateness to find Harry swimming in his eyes. Her stern look had the desired effect as she ordered; "Now go sit down, your pacing is putting her off."
"Yes 'Mione," Ron droned, but did as he was told. One thing he had learned was to never get on her bad side.
Giving her a quick peck on the lips he obeyed and sat down in one of the red single sofas. He continued to watch the tiny creature intently who was still trying to track Harry's magical signature. At detecting the inner distress of the male in the room Bell felt a surge of pity.
"Look guys, I know ya really want to find him. But she's right, these things take time-bean," Bell interrupted herself for another snack, lifting one tiny white hand for one. Hermione rolled her eyes and handed her yet another cherry Berty Botts Every Flavoured bean. "Thanks girl, anyway the more you distract me boy the longer it will take. I'm working as fast as my magic can flow here, yeah?"
"Yeah, sorry," Ron muttered sincerely.
Hermione raised a feminine eyebrow as Ron's cheeks turned as red as his hair. She shook her head, brown eyes closed, brown hair swaying gracefully around her shoulders. Ron is so sensitive, then again his pride is probably hurt from being told off by a creature not even one fifth his size.
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Then, Severus remembered what had happened recently with Ginny Weasley going blind, how much Harry and him still did not get along. He remembered Harry punching Goyle in the face by mistake when he had missed Draco, putting a detention in place for the Saturday of that week. He remembered that detention turning into a disaster when the Headwolf had separated him and Harry from Hermione and Ron...and getting lost in the woods.
He remembered the boy falling down that hill because in his eyes it was funny, also remembering the constant running away from the Headwolf. He remembered Harry falling asleep on his back, for the contact had shocked him.
He remembered the Cave of Souls and being trapped underneath the rocks with the boy, nearly dying from the lack of air. Then there was the point of meeting the stag of James Potter and getting that blasted wound in his side that would later cost him his life. He remembered the boy helping him when he was trapped under that boulder...and after that things began to change between them.
He remembered the boy eating so many blackberries, and the two squirrels that had wanted some that they had met on the way. He remembered these same two red squirrels saving Potter from a Dementor when the bridge had collapsed, in turn triggering the memory of him finally accepting the Potter's help when he was too weak to finish climbing.
Finally, after everything they had been through...he remembered Bremilda Griptamoore and falling incredibly sick. Severus shut his eyes in misery as the pain of remembering it crushed his heart, for his last words still echoed in his mind like a freshly made wound.
"You...you need...to-to find a way...to get Harry home."
If only Harry could just hear him, even for just a moment. If he had heard Severus Snape right then, then he would have heard the heartless man say his name for the very first time...the last time.
"Inform that...oblivious idiot...that I am-" Severus was interrupted by a sharp pain in his chest. Bremilda attempted to give him the draft once more, but Snape refused. "That I am...sorry...for everything. For the...names, the un-unfairness...my cruelty."
A huge gasp of breath wheezed through Snape's lungs after that, the unnatural trance he had been in vanishing as he painfully opened his eyes. As ludicrous as it sounds, that was one of the most painful experiences I have ever been forced through. Not even the Dark Lord's torture can match, Severus thought. He glowered at feeling his cracked pride still chipping away at his show of weakness. Had he seriously just collapsed? Him, the emotionless potions master? Glaring he sat up, smacking Death's hand away.
"Do not come into contact with me," Snape growled, icy glare cold enough to freeze the fiery flames of hell over. "This never occurred, are we clear?"
Death had not moved from beside him, kneeling on the floor with a bone hand to Snape's forehead, just waiting for the restoring of memories to be over. So imagine his surprise when the proud man sat up and smacked his hand away defensively—heartlessly. He just stared at the man sitting up on his knees, panting slightly for breath with a curtain of black locks covering his face.
Death stood up, his black cloak fluttering creepily around him. He noted how Severus watched him cautiously under his veil of cascading hair.
Lowering his hand with a creak of his bones to help the other up Death stated, "Of course, Severus."
Snape glowered and ignored the hand, forcing himself up onto his unsteady feet by himself. Withholding grunts of pain at his stabbing headache he staggered over to his grey sofa and practically flopped down into it.
"This is ludicrous, this whole situation is ludicrous! It is, in lack of a better meaningful word—preposterous. Preposterous on a number of unnatural levels," Snape talked to the black ceiling above as if he was going insane.
Death, if he could have, would have blinked at the man. Black sockets watched the pained face of Severus Snape illuminated by the blue flames of the fireplace. He could not help but give a low chuckle as the male threw one arm over his head, looking utterly exhausted.
"Severus, do you desire tea before the next trial?"
"...Indeed I do."
xXEnd of ChapterXx
Ok, this was absolute shite! XD I have not written in so long it felt VERY strange, I hope I kept them in character all right after so long. Didn't do Charlie or Draco since I had a whole chapter for them not that long ago.
PLEASE REVIEW, I am in serious need to know how I did after so long.