Chapter 31: The Plight Of The Wayward
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
{"Masquerading as a man with a reason...My charade is the event of the season...And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know...On a stormy sea of moving emotion...Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean...I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say...Carry on my wayward son...For there'll be peace when you are done...Lay your weary head to rest...Don't you cry no more..."}Carry On Wayward Son, Kansas
Hogwarts Castle Grounds, Scotland, Wizarding World...
Bright flashes of magical energy and dazzling smoke filled the air as Hogwarts Castle found itself under assault for the first time in nineteen years. Headmistress McGonagall had been well equipped to handle the threat if it were to come to a long term battle having taken the students and locking them safely away from the fire fight. The Professors had been ready to defend Hogwarts as they had before from the will of a mad tyrant.
It seemed that they were in agreement that this Arcturus of the Serpent Brothers Of Destruction had been no different than the likes of Voldemort in his early days. The only difference had been the magical brute's agenda concerning Severus Snape.
Hermione had cleverly determined the next attack would take place at Hogwarts given it's significance to Snape at the time of his death. Harry had run out of option in terms of narrowing down whom he believed the wizard intent on imposing his will upon the wizarding world had been.
Once the Aurors jumped to the defense of Hogwarts and their young children whom were in attendance, the fighting intensified. Hermione Granger-Weasley had been cornered near the east tower and ambushed before anyone could figure out that Arcturus had planned to take her before all the fighting had even occurred.
Realizing his mistake all too late, Harry attempted to save his best friend only to find he had been out maneuvered once more. It had been fortunate for him that Icarus had responded to Hermione's distress and this time he had not been alone when his great wings flapped and a clap of thunder soon followed.
Harry had been greatly surprised to see Regulus Snape taking down members of The Serpent Brother's Of Destruction with quick and precise spells. His graceful movements despite his impressive build had been the result of rigorous training with his father in the past.
"Geek boy where's Hermione?" asked Regulus aiding the bewildered Harry Potter.
"They took her toward the east tower." said the green eyed wizard.
"Round up the others." said the raven haired wizard. "I'll get her back."
Before Harry could object to the brazen attempt to take on a powerful dark wizard alone, Regulus had been long gone.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The East Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Hermione Granger struggled in the grasp of the two robed brutes keeping her prisoner. She had assumed they had planned to lure Harry to the location in a bid to ambush him. The witch attempted to fight her way out of the trap only to be subdued by another robed wizard. She had greatly respected Severus Snape before and after he was killed during the second wizarding war.
She had not understood how anyone whom held the deceased wizard in such high regard could do something so terrible in his name. From what Harry had told her about Snape and his memories the Potions Professor greatly resented his status as a Death Eater following Lily Potter's murder.
Never one to be counted out for long, Hermione's mind set to work on coming up with a solution to get her out of the clutches of her enemies before any harm could be done to Harry or anyone else that had come to rescue her. Not to mention the label of a damsel in distress had no appeal to the world weary witch.
Thinking quickly, she managed to step on the foot of one of her captors and elbowed him in the ribs. They might have been prepared for any sort of magical defense but nothing had been done to educate them on muggle violence.
Hermione managed to make it toward a darkened corridor only to find herself running quite literally into the raven haired wizard known as Regulus Snape. The two of them tumbled down a darkened corridor that had been thankfully out of the path of their pursuers.
When they landed, Hermione had unceremoniously ended up on top of the harshly breathing American wizard.
"Shit." said Regulus coming to his senses after getting a whiff of her jasmine scented hair. "What a time to get a boner."
Hermione's eyes widened as she quickly attempted to get off of him.
"Regulus?" she said confused for a moment before noting his accent.
"So much for this being an epic rescue." he said sitting up.
"What are you doing here?" asked the amber eyed witch.
"I was taking a ride with Icarus and then he suddenly started "spazzing out" on me and flew me here." replied the American wizard. "I think he likes you."
Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Regulus...those men are from The Serpent Brothers Of Destruction." she quickly explained. "They've attacked Hogwarts and my son is attending for his first year."
"Bummer." he said getting to his feet and dusting himself off. "So I guess this means you need a distraction considering you don't really need the rescue."
"I..." began Hermione only to be silenced by Regulus kissing her on the cheek.
"Say no more gorgeous one." he replied with a smile. "Let's clear out this trash."
Hermione shook her head.
Regulus Snape had been a strange wizard alright and she was quite glad to have him on her side, weirdness not withstanding.
"Alright." she said.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
The East Tower, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
With the help of Icarus and Hermione's ingenious planning, The Serpent Brother's Of Destruction had been driven back from the grounds of Hogwarts. Regulus had provided the distraction as he had promised only to find himself overwhelmed in the catacombs of an abandoned part of the castle.
He had been doing his best to avoid the spells being cast his way after injuring his shoulder in the initial fall upon unwanted discovery of this level of the castle grounds.
"Shit." he said ducking and dodging rubble as it nearly struck him in the wake of a misfired spell.
He had been too far below ground and hidden in the unknown parts of the castle to have help from either the Aurors or Icarus.
Another spell zipped by him.
"Fuck." he said as he continued to hurry out of the path of more misfired spells. "Great job on the rescue Reg...now how in the hell are we going to get out of this mess?"
He had seemingly avoided his pursuers for far too long as his footing gave way in time for another spell to be fired and he went down without much effort. He had known initially he had broken his shoulder in the fall and lost track of his wand before he could determine which way to further run, the robed wizards attacked him.
Feeling the intensity of a white hot pain shoot through his body, Regulus Snape lost consciousness as his enemies surrounded him...wands at the ready.
"Dad..." had been the last thing he said before everything faded.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The Grounds, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
There had been no sign of Regulus as Hermione quickly made her way around the castle. Order had been restored thanks to the Aurors driving out the intruders and Harry had managed to confirm the children had been well in Minerva's care.
"Did you see him?" asked Hermione still looking around despite the "all clear".
"See who?" asked Harry unsure what she meant.
"Regulus." replied the amber eyed witch. "He helped me into the castle by causing a distraction and I haven't seen him since we split up near the east tower."
"I didn't see him." replied Harry. "The bird's gone too maybe he took off again...you know Snapes don't stick around for admiration."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at her best friend.
"Sorry." he said realizing that Snape had no choice in his lack of admiration given he had been murdered. "Kidding."
"Some times I can't believe you." she said still slightly annoyed.
"I suppose I've been around Ron too long." replied the green eyed wizard.
"Given your poor humor and horrid eating habits, I wouldn't doubt it." replied Hermione as she sighed. "I suppose he did go home...but I can't help but shake this terrible feeling that something's wrong."
Harry sighed placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"It could be the shock given that we were just doing battle at Hogwarts again after nineteen years." he said. "I say we go home and get some rest."
"But what if..." began Hermione.
"No buts...Mione." said Harry in a serious tone. "I'm sure Regulus can take care of himself...he is Snape's son after all."
Seeing no reason to argue that fact Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I suppose you're right." she said still not able to fully bury the strange feeling. "Home it is."
The two best friends relished their minor victory over The Serpent Brothers Of Destruction and the infamous Arcturus. Little did they know, evidence of foul play was only a few meters away in the form of a broken tunnel cover.