Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Warning! This is not a nice chapter. This is the 'battle' chapter and as I don't think I am very good with fighting scenes, I tried my best not to be too descriptive, but there are still some unpleasantness... Meaning there is a reason for the title. I would say that this is the beginning of the angst...
Thank you for the reviews!
Severus had frozen, unable to take his eyes from the place where Hermione had fallen. A hand closed on his arm, fingers digging painfully in his flesh.
"Professor Snape!"
He started and turned the head to look into the stunning green eyes of Harry Potter.
"Take her back to Hogwarts. We will deal with Voldemort."
"You foolish–"
"She called you. Time for the Gryffindors to show their courage. But we won't be able to fight if you don't protect her."
The words of the prophecy came back to Severus and he blinked. Flanked by Harry, dodging curses, he ran to Hermione and lifted her in his arms. As he was on the point of Apparating in Hogsmeade, Harry called him again:
"Professor! Remember one thing: it's your name she said before falling, not Salazar's."
Severus didn't answer; Harry couldn't understand why the stern Potions Master kept thinking of the young woman in his arms as Rowena. Salazar loved Rowena but he, Severus Snape, couldn't love; he didn't think he knew how.
He took a look around him before leaving. Viktor had thrown back his Invisibility Cloak and accepted the broomstick from Harry, who was already back in the thick of the fight. Severus blinked. Harry was clothed in his Quidditch gear, broomstick in hand. Viktor grinned at the younger wizard, mounted his broom and took off, closely followed by the Gryffindor. Severus shook his head; he would wonder later. He Apparated in Hogsmeade and hurried to Hogwarts, bursting into the Hospital Wing.
"Poppy!"
The mediwitch appeared immediately and she wasn't alone. Callisto Vector and Terry Boot were by her side.
"Put her on one of the cots," she instructed curtly.
She waved her wand above Hermione's unconscious form and nodded.
"She's alive and there's no reason to fear for her life."
"Good. I have to go back there."
"We're coming also," said Callisto.
Severus didn't lose time arguing. While they were already on the way to Hogsmeade, he asked Terry:
"Why aren't you with the other members of the DA?"
"Because I can't be where Hermione is when Voldemort is around," he replied with a shrug, almost successfully hiding the twitch of his mouth at saying the name. "I cast the spell on her mind with her; if he has the both of us, then he can undo the spell. We don't want that, do we?"
"Well-thought indeed."
Once back to the battlefield, Severus looked around and almost had an audible groan of despair. Several people were flying above his head, all in Quidditch gear, except for Viktor. He recognised almost the whole of Gryffindor Quidditch team and noticed that there were more red heads than there should have been.
"What does all that mean?" he yelled, his wand drawn.
By his side, Terry was grinning.
"Fred and George Weasley came back. They invented a new sort of Bludger. A cursed one. So they created two of them, had Dobby – he's a house elf, a friend of Harry – to spell them to pursue Death Eaters and here we are! Beware!"
A whizzing Bludger passed near them, hitting a Death Eater near Terry in the ribs. They heard a satisfying crack and the wizard fell on the ground, his legs turned to jelly.
"A slight improvement on the Jelly-Legs spell," commented Terry cheerfully. "As for the Quidditch formation, we thought it would give us an advantage, allowing us to attack them from above. Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Oliver for Gryffindor, Megan for Ravenclaw, Zacharias for Hufflepuff and, naturally, Professor Krum."
Severus looked up again and truth to be told, Oliver Wood was there also.
"And Miss Weasley?"
"Harry and Ron were not too keen on letting her come. Because of Voldemort, you know."
"You are crazy. All of you," muttered Severus.
Terry grinned again.
"Yes, sir! And yet, be lucky we managed to convince Lee Jordan not to come for commenting the game!"
"Don't be so sure, Terry!" exclaimed a joyful voice by his side. "I wouldn't miss this for anything!"
Severus was impressed despite himself. As crazy as the idea could sound, it seemed it was working quite efficiently. All the Quidditch players were steering their broom one-handed, the other hand clutched on the wand, firing curses as fast as they were flying. As for Fred and George, it appeared like they had included a wand in their bat since rays of light from all colours were regularly coming out of them.
"Human Bludgers," he grumbled when seeing Fred recklessly fly into a Death Eater, sending him sprawled on the ground. "Hello, Avery," he added, as the silver mask fell next to his unconscious owner.
As for the ground team, they were quite organised also. They were paired, back-to-back, except for Minerva, Remus and Callisto, who were fearlessly in the thick of the battle without any protection in their back. Fortunately, the team above kept an eye on those on the ground and more than once, a well-sent Bludger or a spell knocked a Death Eater just before he could curse one of the defenders.
Seeing as they were doing fine on their own, Severus began his search for Voldemort. Obviously, he wasn't the only one with that purpose, since Harry was circling up above, his wand on the ready, his eyes searching the ground with a suspect fervour. As he made his way across the Death Eaters' ranks – as they all thought he was on their side, they didn't attack him – Severus could see people falling around him; it was an indescribable pandemonium. Death Eaters fell, knocked to the ground by stunning charms – or mad Bludgers releasing a random curse while breaking some bones – while members of the DA fell due to spells rather nastier.
He saw one of the Patil twins already on the ground, her knee apparently broken considering the angle it was at, her sister standing next to her, firing spells as fast as she could utter them. Ernie Macmillan, with a strange calm, was casting silencing charms, which infuriated the Death Eaters, the whole thing making Luna smile in an eerie way while she used indifferently the Hover Charm on their wand and the Impediment Curse.
Then he heard a cry over all the shouts due to the spells invocations and looked up to see little Megan spiralling downward. Smothering a curse, he managed to cast a Cushioning Charm before she hit the ground and coldly stunned the Death Eater who was coming. He took the mask off with his foot and had a thin smile.
"Fancy seeing there, Macnair. I thought for sure you were still in Azkaban."
He bent down and lifted Megan in his arms, taking her where the wounded were. Anthony Goldstein and Dean Thomas were there standing guard, both being the less injured. Anthony took Megan from Severus's arms and nodded.
"The Raven will fall, the Snake will protect," said a voice behind them.
Severus turned around and saw Terry smiling at him.
"You know about the prophecy then, Mr. Boot?"
"Oh, Hermione told me, before the spell, you know, so I would have an idea of what to expect. I would say that the Lion is fighting pretty well. I'm worried about the Badger though, not that I don't trust Ernie or Hannah, but well, against Voldemort?"
"I know. But we might be surprised."
"SNAPE!"
"Potter's calling. I guess he found the Dark Lord. I have to go."
On his way to Voldemort, Severus noticed he wasn't the only Slytherin protecting others. Callisto was standing in front of the Creevey brothers, both fallen, and she was fighting aggressively the three Death Eaters standing in front of her. That is, until a fourth one, standing back, raised his wand at her and uttered the Killing Curse. Severus had just joined her in stunning two of the Death Eaters, who had not expected his arrival, when she stumbled and fell on her knees.
"Cal! Callie!" shouted Severus.
Colin Creevey managed to get Callisto's wand and, awkwardly, cast Stupefy on the remaining Death Eater. Severus looked at the one who had killed Callisto and recognised the large silhouette without hesitation. It was Jonathon Crabbe. He stored this information for later and knelt by Callisto. Colin looked up at him, his fingers clutching painfully the Arithmancy teacher's wand. Severus looked at his friend's face; there were still marks of her fierceness in the fight, but there was peace also and, as an echo from long ago, Severus remembered some words from Firene:
"Thy pain will soon be gone."
He clenched his teeth. Firene had known Callisto would die and he hadn't told him! He cradled her in his arms before standing up.
"Can you walk?" he asked the Creevey brothers.
"Slowly, but we should manage," replied Colin bravely, slowly standing up without leaning too much on his left leg.
He held out a hand to his brother, who seemed to have difficulties seeing. Dennis stood and narrowed his eyes.
"You can lean on me, Colin," he said after a moment.
"Follow me," commanded Severus, still holding Callisto's still body against him. "What happened to your wands?"
"They broke them," mumbled Colin.
"SNAPE!" called Harry again, quite frantically.
Severus looked up and Viktor circling above him.
"Krum! Go help Potter!"
Viktor looked around for Harry and nodded before flying off.
"The Badger will strike," murmured Severus, following him with his eyes for a moment, hoping against all hopes. "Weasley!" he barked, catching Fred's attention. "I want a clear path to the wounded, now!"
"Yes, sir!" he replied immediately.
He swung his bat and the Bludger flew right in front of Severus, whizzing loudly and throwing curses all around. Severus noticed, quite impressed, that only Death Eaters were targeted and wondered how it was that he wasn't targeted himself.
"Dobby," said Colin between clenched teeth. "Harry told him you would be here and he made sure that the Bludgers would leave you alone."
"I knew I should have studied house elves' magic."
"Hermione will feel a spur for her SPEW campaign," grinned Dennis, concentrating hard to walk in a straight line.
"If she survives," muttered Severus darkly.
He managed to get his wand in a correct position and aimed it at Dennis.
"Finite Incantatem," he said.
Immediately, the Conjunctivitis Curse on Dennis was lifted and he nodded his thanks to his Potions teacher.
Minerva was standing by Anthony's side when Severus and the Creevey brothers arrived there. Her face saddened when seeing Callisto in Severus's arms. She knew of the friendship between the two Slytherins and could guess at the pain Severus was feeling.
"We need to retreat," said Severus. "They will kill us without remission if we keep going."
"It will be hard," she replied. "For Apparating here, we had an anchor, almost like a Portkey, but acting for all of us at the same time. Some of the students don't know how to Apparate yet and besides…"
"You can't Apparate in Hogwarts," interrupted Colin. "That's what Hermione says all the time."
The two teachers glared at him.
"If we had an anchor in Hogwarts, we could pull everybody at the same time," continued Minerva as if she hadn't been interrupted.
"Who was the anchor here?"
"Viktor, triggered by some words by Hermione."
"Hermione is in the Hospital Wing, but she's probably still unconscious. If not, she could have been used as an anchor."
"There is still Ginny there," intervened Anthony. "I can Apparate to Hogsmeade, run to Hogwarts, cast the anchor spell on her and come back."
Minerva and Severus looked at each other.
"We need every fighter while we get the others safe."
"Alright, Mr. Goldstein, you go."
Anthony nodded and Disapparated. Severus frowned.
"Does he know the anchor spell?"
"Yes, Filius taught it to everybody, in case something happened to one of us and we needed a quick escape road."
"Exactly the situation we are right now."
He brushed a wandering lock from Callisto's brow and lay her down on the ground.
"I have to go. Potter was calling for me and I sent Krum instead. I want to make sure everything is fine."
"Try to hold until Mr. Goldstein comes back. We need some time."
"Tell the Quidditch team when you begin the retreat. They will probably belong to the last to leave."
Minerva acquiesced and Severus left, Fred being back to guide him to Harry and Viktor, though he would probably have been able to find them by himself, seeing the angry flashes of light going between the two silhouettes on their broom and the ground.
Voldemort was casting the Killing Curse toward Viktor, but never toward Harry. Severus remembered that Voldemort wanted Harry to tell him about the prophecy. He inwardly shook his head. The Dark Lord had no subtlety as for fighting techniques. The Killing Curse and the Cruciatus Curse were all he ever used, except if his adversary provided him with something else before.
As he got near, Severus stumbled on something lying on the ground. It was a broomstick and he remembered Megan's fall. Of course, there had to be her broomstick somewhere. He looked at it thoughtfully for a moment, then mounted it and took off, joining Viktor and Harry in the air.
It was dark now, but the rays of coloured light coming from the wands all around provided enough light for them to see where Voldemort stood.
"You're a traitor, Severus, I knew this! You can thank your little lover for saving your sorry hide!"
"How can you be so sure that I am Severus and not Salazar?" he roared with rightful anger. "You cursed my beloved Rowena, am I to stand on the side and let you proceed?"
Severus's answer caught Voldemort by surprise; he had clearly not expected Severus to be possessed by Salazar's spirit the same way Hermione was possessed by Rowena's.
"I see how far your 'love' goes, Severus or Salazar! Rather than being by her side, waiting for her to open her eyes, you're here, trying to fight me! For all you know, she may be calling for you with her last breath!"
"She's being taken care of right now!"
"Taken care of!" laughed Voldemort while sending the Cruciatus Curse in Harry's direction, who dodged it smoothly. "There is nothing left to take care of! The damages I have caused are permanent, Severus! No matter your skills or the skills of the people in St. Mungo, you won't be able to undo what I did!"
Viktor, blind with fury, dived toward the Dark Lord. Harry, seeing this, dived in turn to try to stop him. At the same time, a blurry Bludger passed near Severus, aiming straight for Voldemort. Severus turned the head quickly and Fred was just behind him, swinging his Beater bat with a bad look in his eyes.
"What is that?" said Severus.
"It's a Nasty Cursed Bludger, proudly invented by George and Fred Weasley, sold only in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!"
"Any difference with the two you used just a few minutes ago?"
"Oh yes, this one is specially targeted for Voldemort and the curses are nastier than Jelly-Legs. Dobby is really a great ally. Remind me to never cross a house elf. Anyway, I was supposed to tell you that Anthony is back; he had the niceness to bring this little jewel with him."
"You left it at Hogwarts?"
"We left it with Ginny. She thought of giving it to Anthony for us. Clever little girl, my sister is. Oh, and Professor McGonagall started the retreat. For the moment, the wounded are already evacuated and some of the most vulnerable members of the DA. In fact, for all I know, we are the only ones left with Remus and Professor McGonagall."
"I thought your sister liked the Dark Lord. Why would she send you this Bludger?"
"Because she doesn't know it's against Voldemort! We don't tell the secrets of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes until the effects are in full force!"
And indeed, the effects were in full force. George sent the two others Bludgers in their direction also and Voldemort had to deal with three cursed Bludgers and the spells from both Harry and Viktor, while Severus, Fred and George kept an eye on the Bludgers and on the Death Eaters threatening to come help their master.
Ron zoomed past them.
"It's time!" he yelled. "Come now!"
"Is Lupin already gone?" asked Severus coldly.
"Yes, he is. The ground team was evacuated first. Mc… Professor McGonagall has left also. We're the only left."
"Then go, Weasley. Take Smith and Wood with you. I'll send your brothers as soon as I can."
Viktor had heard Severus's last words and had a grim smile.
"Time for me to remember all the dark spells I learnt in Durmstrang," he said. "Can you hold the Death Eaters for, let's say, two minutes maximum?"
The twins nodded at Severus's silent question.
"I need the Bludgers though," added Viktor.
George shrugged.
"It's alright. We wanted to use the Canary Hex anyway."
Severus rolled his eyes and Oliver sniggered before Disapparating in Hogwarts thanks to the anchor.
While Harry kept Voldemort busy enough for him to ignore Viktor, the former Durmstrang student called the Bludgers to him, stopping them before they could hit him and linked them together in a triangle. Then he added the Cruciatus Curse on the top of it all and sent the result straight at Voldemort, the three Bludgers whizzing, swirling around. Once done, he aimed his wand at Voldemort.
The Dark Lord, distracted by Harry diving straight on him and Viktor's sudden curses, managed to dodge the first Bludger, but took the second one in the shoulder. He screamed under the suddenly released Cruciatus Curse; the Bludgers, having found a target, liberated their own spells on him and the third Bludger hit Voldemort in the back of his knees, sending him on the ground.
"Now!" yelled Severus.
He heard several 'pop' behind him, knowing that the Weasley twins had – for once – followed his orders and to his surprise, so had Harry. Viktor and he were left and the young wizard raised his wand.
"That's for Hermione," he whispered. "Diffindo."
Voldemort screamed even louder while he was writhing in the Cruciatus Curse and his long-fingered hands covered his stomach where Viktor's spell had hit him. The Death Eaters looked up at the little silhouettes above them but before they could do anything, both Viktor and Severus had pulled on the power of the anchor in Hogwarts.
As soon as he arrived, Severus landed and dropped the broomstick. Not all the others had been so lucky; Apparating on a broomstick could be tricky. But he didn't stop to help them. He had only one thing in mind: the Hospital Wing. The flow of the DA members was going in the same direction and he knew that Poppy had already lots of work. He grabbed someone on his left and said curtly:
"Go to Professor Grubbly-Plank and tell her to come to the Hospital Wing!"
"Yes, sir," replied the now familiar voice of Anthony Goldstein.
Thankfully, Poppy had already had the time to take care of some minor injuries and nobody seemed to be in danger. Harry was sitting by Megan's cot, all the while glancing in direction of Hermione's. Since Severus knew that Callisto was dead without any chance for her to come back, he cared only about Hermione and managed to get Poppy on the side just as Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank entered and helped – she was used to nurse wounded animals and had said once that she could care for wounded people also.
"What about Her – Miss Granger? How is she?"
Poppy looked around to see if she had a way to escape Severus, but there was none.
"Severus, it's… well… what I mean is–"
"Out with it!"
Poppy swallowed hard.
"There is no Heir."