Chapter twenty-nine:
Calamity
The headmaster's office was quiet and deafening upon Snape's words, knowing exactly the topic of the conversation would lead to none other than Voldemort and the horcruxes regarding the charcoal hand that Dumbledore displayed. In Snape's mind, the hand looked as if it was cursed by dark magic."Yes, Severus." Dumbledore replied, hesitantly looking at his own discolored hand that laid on the desk. "I have managed to destroy an additional horcrux with the sword of Gryffindor..." Dumbledore added, pulling out the ring to have it lay flat on the surface of the desk. "Though the horcrux may be gone, the curse seems to still be upon me. If I had known it to be cursed beforehand, I wouldn't have worn it to begin with." Dumbledore explained.
Snape walked closer to the desk, examining the hand that seemed to be dying from the looks of it. "It is a fatal curse, indeed..." Snape stated as he lifted the charcoal hand, continuing examination. Snape couldn't entail any positivity when it came to deadly curses, normally there was no cure to counteract such curses.
"You have about a year, at most." Snape estimated before gently letting go of Dumbledore's hand and swiftly stepping down from the desk. Not only would it be bad news for Dumbledore, but it would be bad news for Snape as well - only Dumbledore knew about his task of being a double agent.
"We both know that Voldemort has ordered the Malfoy boy to murder me." Dumbledore pointed out, causing Snape to stop in his steps and turn to face Dumbledore at the desk once again. "...should the boy fail, I should presume Voldemort will turn to you. You must be the one to kill me, Severus. It's the only way that Voldemort will completely trust you." Dumbledore explained.
Snape didn't like the idea of being the one to have to kill Dumbledore. This would make him look like the bad guy in the eyes of Victoria, someone who he wanted to marry. Could it be possible that he would lose Victoria too if she found out his involvement with the death eaters? This was an issue, not including that this could possibly damage his soul as well. "That boy's soul is not yet damaged, it doesn't need to be." Dumbledore mentioned.
"And my soul, headmaster? What about my soul?" Snape questioned. Snape had not killed to cause his soul to split and had never planned to do so, but this had changed things. "Only you would know whether it will harm your soul to help an old man avoid pain, Severus." Dumbledore pointed out. This didn't exactly relax Snape about having to be the one to kill Dumbledore, but it seemed that there was no other solution.
"There is one other thing we must discuss before you leave, Severus..." Dumbledore mentioned. Snape paused once more in his tracks to listen hesitantly. Was there anything else that may damage him? "There will be a time when Harry must be told something. You must wait until Voldemort is at his most vulnerable to do so." Dumbledore's explained. This intrigued Snape, causing him to listen intently to what was about to be told as his expression remained placid. "Must be told, what?" Snape questioned.
Dumbledore knew that the news he was about to tell Snape would become a shock and quite harsh but it was needed to be said before Dumbledore would be killed. "The night Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow to kill Harry, when Lily Potter had cast herself between them, blocking Harry to face Voldemort himself, the curse rebounded. When it happened, a part of Voldemort's soul latched itself onto the only living thing it had found. Which was Harry himself. There's a reason that Harry can speak to snakes like Voldemort and there's a reason he can look into Voldemort's mind. There's a part of Voldemort that lives inside Harry, making him another horcrux." Dumbledore explained.
Snape had to take a mere moment to take in what he was just told. This was something that Voldemort never found out as he had never heard Voldemort speak of it and something that sounded a lot like Harry was being weaponized for war. It was indeed useful to defeat Voldemort but he came to the realization that Harry had to die in order to destroy another horcrux to weaken Voldemort and defeat Voldemort.
"So when the time comes...the boy must die?" Snape asked hesitantly. If Victoria ever found out that Harry died, there would be no words Snape could say to make the situation better and he knew that. Snape watched as Dumbledore seemed to express guilt on his face, knowing that this entire time that was the solution to eliminating Voldemort for good. "Yes...he must die." Dumbledore confirmed, looking away towards his Phoenix, Fawkes.
"This entire time you've kept him alive so he could die at the proper moment. You have been raising him like a pig for slaughter..." Snape pointed out in both surprise and disgust in the situation before them. Snape wasn't fond of Harry because he had reminded him of James with being in trouble during school and his appearance similar to James but deep down, he had grown to not hate Harry.
"Don't tell me that you've grown to care for the boy, Severus..." Dumbledore suspected, having expected Snape to have only been around Harry to protect him from Voldemort since the day they had made the deal in order for Dumbledore to hide the Potters - which failed due to who the Potters entrusted with their location. But, Dumbledore and Snape had that conversation years prior to having knowledge of Lily having a twin - then came along Victoria. Was Lily the only influence on Snape to care for Harry? Perhaps, but Victoria was as well.
"Unfortunately, I had gotten to know Potter over the years..." Snape replied, knowing that it wasn't planned to getting to know Harry but to only protect him to not only later defeat Voldemort but for Lilly's sake since he had her eyes. Now, he had protected Harry for Victoria's sake as well, having gotten to know Harry throughout the years to not lose Victoria's interest.
"Victoria?" Dumbledore questioned, having the inkling that Snape had to get to know Harry in order to have good standing with Victoria and perhaps they would be family one day, knowing that Snape had proposed to Victoria not long ago. The moment that Dumbledore had mentioned Victoria's name, Snape's caught off guard expression had just confirmed to Dumbledore that he was right before watching Snape swiftly leave the office.
Victoria had entered the castle after a brief walk from Hogsmeade, heading to the History of Magic classroom when she spotted Snape from halfway down the hall, seemingly heading in the direction of the dungeons where his office was located. Snape seemed to be in a slight rush before spotting Victoria near the History of Magic classroom, easing himself before deciding to approach his fiancé who was stopped by the door, keeping a placid expression.
"Is there something that I should know, Severus?" Victoria asked, her mouth curved into an amused smile. Of course there was something that he had just discussed with Dumbledore but it had to remain a secret until the proper moment, even though Victoria was the guardian of Harry, she still had to be left in the dark about such information.
"No...however, I have essays that i need to attend to, unfortunately." Snape stated forwardly, pausing for a moment. Victoria arched a brow at the comment, not being able to help herself become a little skeptical. "I suppose I do as well..." Victoria replied hesitantly. Victoria didn't know if Snape had been preoccupied with many things or rather avoiding her for an odd reason. She shouldn't doubt his affection, should she? "I will see you at dinner." Snape pointed out before walking off towards the dungeons. Victoria sighed as she opened her classroom door and stepped into her classroom.
When it was dinner, Victoria found herself at the front table with the rest of the professors moments before Snape had taken the empty chair beside her, like he usually does. Victoria had been deep in thought, thinking about several things that had lingered over the break. The odd event of unknown voices at Snape's home while she was to hide in the closet, what happened to the Weasleys while Harry was there and now a sense of doubt whether Snape cared more for her or her sister, Lily, since she had been compared to her all these years by many because of her outward looks. Did he keep things from Lily too? She also can tell something was troubling Snape but wasn't sure how to bring it up to him.
"Victoria?" Snape asked to gain her attention, breaking her out of her deep thoughts. Victoria turned her attention onto Snape after snapping out of her thoughts, feeling slightly embarrassed for a moment being caught in what might have seemed like a daze. "Yes?" Victoria replied, fetching her fork and placed it on her plate. Snape studied her for a moment, wondering what may be wrong with her.
"Is there something on your mind?" Snape asked curiously as he turned to his plate to slice some of the roast that laid on it. Victoria had several things on her mind but she didn't think it was particularly the right moment to speak about it, especially in front of the entire school and near the other professors. "Quite a few things." Victoria stated.
"Mind discussing them?" Snape asked, hoping that it wasn't anything to worry about. Victoria took a sip of her tea and set the cup back down, parting her lips to speak when Dumbledore approached the podium to greet the students back from holiday break. "Perhaps later." Victoria whispered, turning her emerald gaze from Snape's dark eyes and onto Dumbledore who began to speak. Snape paused for a moment before he turned to Dumbledore as well.
"Good evening to you all. I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday. But that is not why I'm making this special announcement." Dumbledore stated, looking over at every table before continuing. "As you may know, our own Katie Bell has been getting treatment at St. Mungo's got the incident that happened in October. I would like to inform you, she is doing quite well but will rejoin us at a later time. That is all, enjoy your meal and off to bed." Dumbledore explained, stepping down from the podium and went to sit down to eat.
Once dinner finished, students exited the great hall, along with the staff for the night. Victoria found herself edging the exit of the great hall by the doors when Snape joined to court her to her classroom. The hall was completely empty once the students had gathered into their common rooms and dim with the lit torches along the walls to the corridor. There was a mere silence between them before they arrived to the History of Magic classroom, where Victoria came to a halt in the middle of the room. Snape noticed immediately and closed the classroom door before turning to Victoria.
"What's on your mind, Victoria?" Snape asked curiously, yet also slightly concerned. Victoria had a few things she wanted to discuss with her fiancé but she felt that part where her jealousy of her sister having room in Snape's head was a tad bit childish, though she couldn't help the question spinning around in her mind. Victoria folded her arms in a discouraged manner as she took a few steps forward before she noticed Snape close the big gap between them in the classroom, causing her to come to a stop.
"First...I couldn't help to notice something may be troubling you. I've noticed this since Christmas and I somehow don't buy that those were the board of governors." Victoria pointed out. There was a brief silence between Snape and Victoria after she had paused. Snape couldn't exactly acknowledge that she was right outwardly, but disliked that she was too smart for her own good to somehow figure him out - unless she had spoken to Harry. Did she? No. But Snape didn't know that but he wouldn't risk asking either. "But whatever it is, I truly want to help." Victoria added.
"As much as I appreciate your concern, Victoria...I can handle it proficiently on my own..." Snape stated, unyielding his stance in order to keep the secret between him and Dumbledore. Snape knew that he now needed to do a better job at not putting Victoria in a risky situation like he had at Christmas, not until after Voldemort's defeat.
Victoria sighed, knowing that it precisely meant that Snape wanted to settle whatever it was on his own and though it was unsettling for her to be unable to help, Victoria gave a gentle, understanding nod in response. Victoria had kept in mind of what she was warned about by Dumbledore when she had first gotten involved with Snape and the subtle hint that Snape had given her the night of the proposal, though she hated the feeling of being left in the dark.
"Is there anything else you would like to discuss?" Snape asked curiously. Snape hated keeping Victoria in the dark regarding the predicament he was in working with Dumbledore, but this mission started way before he met Victoria and perhaps it was for her best interests that she wouldn't get herself involved anymore than she was being Harry's guardian.
"Yes...one other thing." Victoria confessed, attempting to configure the words to explain. Snape arched an eyebrow as he waited for the words, in hopes it was a lighter issue. "Which is?" Snape encouraged. Snape studied Victoria's diffident body language, wondering what exactly she additionally had to discuss.
"I want to know, in complete honesty, if you can see a clear difference between my sister and I? Because at the beginning when I came here, I have been compared to her by almost everyone, as if I'm a copy...and after all this time with me, I want to know if you love me for me, or because I look like Lily? Do you love her more?" Victoria explained sincerely, being straight forward as she kept her emerald eyes on Snape.
The question was a rough subject for Snape. Snape had grown up with Lily and she was a great importance in his life since he didn't have any other friends until the day they had a falling out over the insult he had spat towards her. Even through her marriage to his bully and her death, Snape still loved her to look after her son, Harry. Even enough to become a spy against the darkest wizard in the wizarding world known to the current time. Of course at first, Victoria had caught his attention due to looking like Lily, but the more he had worked with her at Hogwarts and got to know her, the more she snagged not only his brain but his heart too.
"I proposed to you, Victoria...to you only, not to Lily." Snape pointed out, pausing for a moment. Victoria knew that he had proposed, but she had doubts in her mind that perhaps she was the closest person to remind him of her sister because she was her twin. "However, I had grown up with your sister and will always love her - in a different way." Snape trailed off, taking Victoria's hand gently into his. "But I love you much more. I meant what I said when I asked you to marry me, Victoria. Always." Snape explained sincerely, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts.
"I, however, have noticed that you are not quick to judge but quick to forgive while Lily was the complete opposite. In addition, your sincerity to rules, you are not sanctimonious like Lily had been." Snape added. Victoria watched as Snape took her hand and listened to his sincere words. Of course the fact that he mentioned that he still loved her sister dug at her a little but she had to also give him the benefit of the doubt since he had grew up with Lily before either of them knew that she had a twin.
Knowing more about her sister, Victoria had noticed a clear difference between herself and Lily, though she haven't been able to judge personally since she never had gotten to meet her. Based on the information she had known about the person Lily decided to marry, what she heard was the presumptive bully of her now fiancé, she could only judge that Lily had bad judgment and apparently bad taste in who to have a relationship with.
"Okay, Severus. That was all I wanted to hear. I suppose I can be a little jealous of my sister's time with you. It's stupid, really." Victoria stated, feeling slightly embarrassed to admitting to the jealousy. She wanted to make sure that she was going to be marrying the man that loved her and not just her sister through her. Deep down, Victoria felt robbed of the opportunity to grow up and attend Hogwarts like Lily had, wondering if she would have turned out different or be the same. However, she felt that she has experienced more than Lily had before her sister had an early passing.
Snape stood there and placed a small, light smile on his lips before gently dropping it upon a reply. "There is no need, Victoria." Snape reassured. Snape was a little bothered by the idea of Victoria questioning his stance on her and Lily, but he could also see her side of things, not knowing the entirety of his relationship with Lily. Victoria had felt reassured a little more now and the both of them decided to turn in for the night, departing to their living quarters.
The next couple of months seemed to pass by fast. Victoria had continued her usual teaching of History of Magic and had encouraged students to attend a study hall she would hold every Saturday for an hour but figured not many would be up for the idea unless they were Ravenclaw - or Hermione Granger for that matter. Snape had kept an eye on Harry even more since he had gotten wind about Harry being very successful in potions class, finding it odd due to the fact that Harry had gotten barely passable grades when he taught Potions - Snape had gotten the impression that he managed to teach Harry nothing at all during the several years.
One afternoon in April, Snape had gotten alerted by the screams coming from the sixth floor boys bathroom all the way from the third floor where he was exiting his classroom, Defense Against the Dark Arts, to head to the great hall but decided to immediately rush up the stairs to check out what the fuss was about, wanting to be the first on the scene before any other staff would investigate.
'Murder! Murder!' Moaning Myrtle shouted from the bathroom before swooping back into one of the toilets in the stalls where one on each side of the stall was busted and having water all over the floor from the broken pipes coming from both the sinks and toilets. Upon arrival, Snape noticed Draco lying helplessly on the wet floor, blood seeping out from the wounds where the gashes had been made. Then there was Harry, standing a few feet away with his wand in hand, seeming confused at the scene.
Snape swiftly rushed to Draco's side, realizing the wounds had been made by his own spell that he created when he was a teenager - Sectumsempra. Quickly, Snape used legilimency in attempt to read Harry's mind without Harry himself knowing, catching the exact thought he needed to see. Harry had been using his Potions book that had his edits and own spells listed for his enemies. No more than a second later, Snape pulled out his wand and began conducting the counter curse as Harry exited the bathroom quickly, as if he was guilty.
"Vulnera sanentur...vulnera sanentur..." Snape spoke in a song-like tone, watching as the red from the water easing backwards towards Draco and back into his body, healing Draco's gashes. The moment that Draco's gashes were gone and the water was once again clear on the floor, Snape brought Draco to the hospital wing to let Madam Pomfrey make sure that he was recovering. Once Snape left the hospital wing, he marched down the staircase and went on to look for Harry as he needed to catch him with his Potions book.
Being unable to find Harry before classes started up again, Snape decided to get back to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and teach the fourth years - which happened to be the last class of the day for Snape to teach. The next few days, Snape kept a close eye on Harry in order catch him in th act of reading his Potions book but he had yet been able to.
Once the weekend had passed, Monday came and that afternoon when lunch began, Snape had exited his office in the dungeons when he caught Harry leaving Potions class, having the Advanced Potion Making book in his hand. Snatching it swiftly from Harry's grasp, Snape quickly looked through it to notice the newer looking potions book without any writing through the pages - it wasn't Snape's old potions book that he had seen earlier.
Of course, Harry had gotten rid of Snape's old potions book immediately after the incident with Draco, it was only obvious and Snape knew the truth through Harry's deceit - he read Harry's mind easily prior. Harry wore a light smirk on his expression at Snape's realization that the potions book was brand new and not the former worn out and scribbled one, but as soon as Snape began to speak, Harry's smirk vanished.
"I know you have been using another Advanced Potion Making textbook that clearly instructs differently from the subtext, Potter. It is quite obvious determining your spontaneous achievement in potions this year, in contrast to when I taught potions..." Snape pointed out sternly. Harry knew that Snape had caught on but continued to be confident that he may sneak away with this without the evidence.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry stated, keeping a straight face as long as possible. Snape, of course, didn't believe the excuse that Harry have, keeping his dark eyes pierced at Harry's dubious expression. The silence of the dungeons was deafening for the moment before Snape decided to respond one last time on this situation.
"You have just earned yourself detention every Saturday until the end of the term, Potter." Snape stated firmly. Harry wasn't sure whether to be surprised or not regarding his reputation with Snape but he was irritated that it had to be on Saturdays, meaning when there was Quidditch. "For what?" Harry asked in a snarky tone.
"For lying and cheating, Potter." Snape pointed out. Harry showed a puzzled look for only a brief moment before parting his lips to go into defense. "I'm not lying nor cheating, professor. I have Quidditch on Saturday-" Harry explained. Snape knew that, once again, Harry was lying to him. "I have evidence of your fibbing, Potter. Do not treat me as a fool. Detention every Saturday." Snape pressed before returning to his office, slamming the door. Harry then walked off furious, heading to the great hall for lunch.
The months passed by even more quickly, having it be near the end of the school year. Harry had served his detentions with Snape, dreading every Saturday since the day he had gotten detention, wondering how Snape had found it verifiable that he cheated in potions. Harry didn't want to drag his aunt Victoria into the situation so he bit his tongue like usual. Snape had dreaded the day that would come when he would have to kill Dumbledore for the mission that Draco had been given to complete from Voldemort - and the fact that he was talked into making the unbreakable vow, knowing either scenario could risk him losing Victoria.
When the month of June came around, it had seemed that the days had grown darker and the pressure of the position Snape found himself standing in was beginning to become unbearable. On the last day of June, Snape had been decided perhaps he could away Dumbledore into a new solution of what was bound to happen, hoping it would be in his favor.
Once his last class ended that evening, Snape had been notified to meet Dumbledore on the Astronomy tower in order to discuss the situation further about Draco since the rest of the students had been away in their common rooms. The moment Snape made his way up to the Astronomy tower, he spotted the headmaster looking out over the railing at the view of the dimmed sky as the calm, spring weather drafted the top of the tower.
"You asked to see me?" Snape asked. Dumbledore turned around slightly to spot Snape standing by the railing of the steps with his hands folded. Snape knew that he could use this moment to attempt to get out of this plan, possibly but he had also known how stern Dumbledore was and that his deal to protect Lily at the time was at the time when he was most desperate to save her which didn't particularly work out.
"Yes, Severus. I needed to discuss one last thing that will need to be done before my soon peril." Dumbledore explained. Dumbledore had called Harry to meet with him also, but not at the exact moment. "Which is?" Snape asked hesitantly. Dumbledore turned back to the view of the sky as he went to talk. "I need to take Harry to the cave where Voldemort once went to as a boy...perhaps he had hid a part of him there, I need to verify it." Dumbledore explained.
"Noted, headmaster. However, I have one other thing I need to discuss since we are here..." Snape replied, attempting to ease the situation to his favor. Dumbledore hesitantly glanced at Snape before looking back to the grounds of Hogwarts. "Do explain, Severus." Dumbledore urged, having an inkling of what it may be.
"I'm not completely certain I can do this, headmaster. If she ever found out..." Snape attempted to explain, worried about what Victoria would think of him and how it may affect their relationship after everything occurs. "She very well might, Severus. Be prepared. If she loves you, she will look past your flaws." Dumbledore pointed out. There was no way that Dumbledore was going to let Snape wiggle out of their deal. Snape figured such a response would come from Dumbledore but he found himself still worried of the risk of losing another chance at love.
"Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?" Snape pushed further with irritation at the tip of his tongue, biting his cheek. "You gave me your word, Severus. There's nothing left to discuss." Dumbledore stated, standing his ground. With the failure to get Dumbledore to comply, Snape marched off hastily to the steps of the tower, briefly pausing at the sight of Harry arriving to meet Dumbledore before continuing to leave the tower.
Snape exited the tower and made his way back down towards the dungeons, taking a brief ten minutes to compose himself as he placed the small ring box that held his mother's ring and the Felix Felicis vial into his inside pocket before deciding to pay Victoria one, last visit before things began to unfold later that evening. When exiting the dungeons, it had came to Snape's surprise when he spotted Victoria on the ground floor. Of course, Snape was suspicious at first but soon came to the conclusion that perhaps she couldn't precisely be wandering about for no reason.
Victoria had agreed to help McGonagall with a few things such as holding a one hour nightly detention for Michael Corner and Terry Boot who were caught passing notes in class. The moment she had placed her hand on the doorknob of the silent Transfiguration classroom where the two boys were writing lines, she saw at the corner of her eye the figure of her Slytherin fiancé.
Victoria removed her hand and turned to face Snape, noticing he had seemed slightly paler than usual. "Is everything okay, Severus?" Victoria asked in concern, folding her arms loosely as she kept her emerald eyes on him. Snape couldn't possibly tell her exactly what was going to happen this evening, but he wanted to somehow avoid any danger she could put herself in, knowing that death eaters may certainly find themselves around Hogwarts because of Draco.
"Not particularly...but it is nothing to worry about. However, I do wonder why you may be in the Transfiguration classroom." Snape replied, attempting to change the conversation for the moment. Victoria had arched a skeptical brow at the change of conversation but she figured it was something to do with classes today, another words - a bad day.
"I'm substituting detention tonight for Minerva. She had to assist the Gryffindor prefects since they had gotten sick from having too many sweets from Honeydukes over the weekend." Victoria explained, forming a light, amused smile on her lips. Victoria could feel that something was off about the evening, but she couldn't simply pin point what it was. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was getting sick too? That couldn't be, she rarely got sick. Something just didn't feel right but she wouldn't talk about it, hoping the feeling would leave in the morning.
"Sounds like an enjoyable evening." Snape teased softly. Victoria shook her head gently, displaying a lighter smile. "Not particularly. It could be better. I best get back, who knows if they're goofing off or writing lines." Victoria hinted. Little did she know, she wouldn't be able to see Snape in the morning. Snape would have to leave immediately upon the murder - though he hoped Draco wouldn't back out, he knew he would end up having to do it himself.
"Obviously. But if I may advise...stay inside the rest of the night, particularly in a classroom." Snape warned. Victoria furrowed her eyebrows at the warning, wondering what exactly was going on and what he was meaning behind the words. "Why, Sev--?" Victoria asked but was quickly halted when Snape cupped her left cheek with his right hand. "Victoria...please." Snape pleaded, looking directly into Victoria's emerald green eyes with his dark eyes.
Victoria listened to the sincerity in Snape's tone and knew this was something important. Something important was happening tonight, though she didn't know what. Snape has never acted this way towards her; nonetheless around her. This surprised Victoria but also may have been a step into identifying her off feeling tonight. "Okay, Severus." Victoria said softly, giving a gentle nod in agreement. Snape kept his stare at Victoria for only a moment more before dropping his hand, pressing a light kiss on her forehead and walked off towards the headmaster's office, then the Astronomy tower later.
Victoria would be lying if she were to say she wasn't worried - she was. Her first instinct was to look for Harry but she had to finish the detention. Taking in a breath, Victoria opened the door and went back into the Transfiguration classroom to finish the detention - which was half over. "How much longer, professor?" Terry Boot asked, obviously bored. Victoria approached the desk and rested the finger tips of her right hand on the surface of the desk as she looked at the two boys. "Fifteen more minutes." Victoria stated. It was actually another half hour, but Victoria had let curiosity get the best of her.
It was soon time for the event to occur. Snape knew this the moment he watched Draco make his way towards the Astronomy tower from a nearby corridor and then five minutes later several fellow death eaters trailing along to the same destination. Once the path was cleared, Snape approached the Astronomy tower, remaining by the steps as he eavesdropped on the outgoing conversation between them and Dumbledore before movement had caught his eye - Harry had been hiding below the stairs.
Snape stepped forward a step, gathering Harry's attention before Snape pressed his own index finger to his lips to signal Harry to remain silent and stay put while continuing to eavesdrop. Snape now had an additional responsibility apart from keeping Draco from damaging his soul and keeping Victoria safe - he had to make sure Harry was unnoticed by the others to continue his safety in this present time.
"Well now, look what we have here. Dumbledore. Wandless and alone. Cornered in his own castle. Well done, Draco." "Do it now, Draco!"
"He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father. Let me finish him. In my own way."
"No! The Dark Lord was clear. The boy's to do it! Go on, Draco. Now!"
Snape knew it was time to head up the steps, knowing this was the moment he very well may lose Victoria's trust - or completely lose her. Dreading the moment, Snape went up the stairs and climbed to the top of the tower, drawing his wand and clearing his mind once more.
"No." Snape stated as he appeared from behind Bellatrix and Draco, causing Draco to lower his wand that he had pointed at Dumbledore discouragingly. Snape knew that Draco was unable to fulfill the orders that Voldemort had ordered him to do, Dumbledore had an inkling of that result. The moment that Snape appeared, Dumbledore knew that their plan was going to be implemented.
"Severus..." Dumbledore muttered. Harry continued to watch on, nervous and scared. Snape ignored the inappropriate remarks towards him from Bellatrix as they seemed to fade in the background as he kept his attention on Dumbledore. "Severus...please." Dumbledore insisted, having discussed this in secret with Snape on doing the favor to keep Draco from Azkaban. Snape then raised his wand quickly, pointing it at Dumbledore and pushing himself to do the curse.
"Avada Kedavra." Snape casted, casting the unforgivable killing curse. The green light hit Dumbledore and then Dumbledore fell from the tower as Snape watched. The silence that flooded the tower was there for only a brief moment before Snape realized he needed to now leave the castle with the death eaters and Draco. Pushing Draco towards the stairwell, Snape marched down the steps, making sure Harry wouldn't follow and headed out of the castle while Bellatrix did her own thing such as causing pointless destruction of the great hall.
Victoria had excused the two boys from detention and exited the classroom to find McGonagall in order to inform her that she had gotten the boys to write their lines. Halfway down the corridor, Victoria heard a huge crash or broken glass rattle against the stone floor, scaring her for only a moment before her attention was turned away from the direction of the noise in the great hall and onto McGonagall who was in the same corridor, instructing lingering students to get to their common rooms.
"Away to your houses. No dawdling!" McGonagall ordered, warning the students in a concerned tone. The thunder that echoed in the sky had seemed to be a warning of danger, which caused McGonagall to be very wary, perhaps it was merely a bad storm coming. "Oh, Victoria...I do appreciate you substituting for me this evening." McGonagall stated.
"No problem, Minerva." Victoria replied. Victoria looked from McGonagall and onto the sky, before noticing something fall from it, unsure who it may be from the distance. "Arresto Momentum!" Victoria casted quickly, causing the person who was falling to come to a halt in the air inches from the ground then plop gently into the grass. Victoria didn't know if it was a student or not that fell but after spotting the body on the ground, it was none other than Dumbledore.
Victoria was in complete shock that the headmaster was lying there lifeless on the grass as McGonagall stepped forward out of the corridor and towards Dumbledore as students began to curiously peek out. Victoria wasn't sure what this meant for the school if the headmaster was killed and who exactly done it. Victoria stepped away from the scene and went to look for Harry when she heard yelling. It was Harry shouting.
"Fight back you coward! Fight back!"
Upon hearing the shouting, Victoria recognized that the voice belonged to her nephew, Harry, and immediately followed the noise to outside. Over the hill where she looked over the view of Hagrid's hut, that appeared to be on fire, Victoria noticed Harry on the ground while Snape stood there as others she didn't recognize had disappeared into the dark forest. The moment that Victoria had peered over the hill, Snape noticed her immediately with her ginger hair before realizing she was making her way down, despite the dangers.
Victoria held her wand in her hand tightly as she quickly made her way down to them, stopping feet away from Snape as they exchanged glances. If Snape had anything to do with the death of Dumbledore, Victoria had no words. It didn't take words for Snape to read Victoria's worried and disappointed expression to know how she felt at the present time. Deciding to leave, Snape swiftly left the scene and disappeared into the forest after the death eaters, not wanting any of them returning to see Victoria.
Victoria watched as Snape left silently without a word to her silence. She knew that there was no words possible to express what had occurred and perhaps, it was smart of Snape to not speak to her - she didn't want to say anything without thinking straight that she may regret later. Maybe this was why Snape wanted her to stay inside tonight? This was definitely something she had to think about when she had the time. Right now, she needed to aid Harry and help the rest of the staff figure what to do here on out without a headmaster.
Victoria watched as Harry started getting to his feet and began helping him stand. "I'm fine...I said I'm fine!" Harry stated in frustration. Victoria arched a judging brow at her nephew's disrespectful tone . "Excuse me?" Victoria questioned. Harry grabbed his wand from the ground, to find his aunt with folded arms. "Sorry." Harry corrected himself, quickly apologizing after realizing the impolite manner he said in the midst of being infuriated and frustrated.
"I understand that you're under a lot of pressure and what happened tonight, I hope you know that." Victoria explained. Harry looked around at the burning hut before noticing Hagrid had gotten Fang out while they spoke and stood there, attempting to extinguish the flames. "I do, truly." Harry replied. Victoria can tell that her nephew was under a lot of stress from not only what happened tonight but from the entirety of the situation of dealing with Voldemort. "We should head back to the castle I'm sure professor McGonagall needs some support." Victoria stated. Harry nodded in agreement before they both headed back to the castle, Hagrid tagged along as well behind them.
When they got back to the castle, the grassy ground where Dumbledore laid was surrounded by students and staff in complete shock and sadness. Victoria watched as Harry kneeled down beside Dumbledore and Ginny rushed over to kneel next to Harry as Harry leaned into her for comfort. That moment indicated to Victoria that it was getting much more serious now in the wizarding world - it wouldn't be like it used to be. Perhaps she could contact a friend of hers from Ilvermorny who currently works as an auror for the Magical Congress of the United States of America.
Snape treaded through the dark forest, catching up to Bellatrix, Draco and the others that were on their way to the Malfoy manor where Voldemort had used as his refuge and to keep hidden from the ministry. When they passed through the gate and approached the front doors, Narcissa peered through the window before opening the front door, closing it after they all entered the mansion to discuss the success of killing Dumbledore and to plan further.
Snape hated the look that he saw on Victoria's expression when he left, but he had hopes she wouldn't find out about what he had done but knew it would be known eventually since Harry witnessed it. For now, Snape needed to keep a clear mind until he would be away from Voldemort and on his own - he must for the safety of not only his and Harry, but for Victoria. Dark times are not lying ahead anymore, it is now unfolding.
