Snape's Secret Part XVIII: Protector of Innocence
[ A/N: This is a pretty important chapter in my opinion. Both Severus and Tom are gonna act kinda mean, but pay close attention to how they fall afterword... Anyway, hope you enjoy this, guys!! Please r/r and vote!! :) I'm in a hyper mood!! Its my birthday. :) ]
" Where have you been? " Snape demanded, as Issabelle started to pull of her sopping wet cloak, " You had me worried sick! "
" Morgana and I went out. " Issabelle replied, sliding past him and starting to walk towards her room.
" Hey! I'm not done yet! " Snape shouted, grabbing her arm, " Where is Morgana? "
" Hogwarts. "
" WHAT?! Tom's gonna be fuming! "
" I think he'll understand, actually. "
" You guys are getting quite... cozy... aren't you? "
" What are you trying to imply? " Issabelle asked, now looking into his eyes, " 'Cause I'm getting sick of all of your little snide remarks. "
" Oh, are you? " Snape laughed, staring at her, " Well I'm sick of seeing you clinging off him like some kind of puppet! "
" Sev, did you hear about Herm and Harry? "
" Don't try to change the subject! "
" There are more important things at stake right now then your pride. " Issabelle said icily.
" I'll be the judge of that. " Snape said, applying even more force to her arm when she once again tried to leave.
" This conversation is over, Severus. "
" Not until I say it is. "
" Let go of me! " Issabelle said, pushing him away. Snape took a couple steps backwards to ragain his balance and without a second thought he retaliated, slapping Issabelle across the face.
" Now, its over. " He said, storming down the stairs to his lab and leaving a bewildered Issabelle standing alone with a dark bruise starting to form against her stinging cheek.
Standing in stone cold silence, she watched as he walked away, every step adding further pain to her already throbbing wound. Pulling herself together, Issabelle mechanically made her way up the stairs and into her own room. Immediately sliding into the comforting isolation of a shower, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax. Surely Severus hadn't meant to do that... Surely...
Finally feeling somewhat better, Issabelle got out and pulled on a long red velvet bathrobe. Once she was sure that her hair was dry, she crawled into bed and was fast asleep in minutes, but her peaceful slumber did not last long.
" Argh! "
A scream of agony sent an unexplainable chill through the cold night air as Issabelle's eyes shot open, automatically facing the window where there was nothing to be seen. Nothing, except the sparkling light of a crescent moon...
Figuring it had been a dream, Issabelle once again lied down, determined to get some peace of mind for at least half the night, but she had not closed her eyes when the cry once again resounded. This time, she got out of bed, walked over to her dresser and turned on a small jeweled oil lamp, which cast a mysterious glow over the dusk-lit room. The cry came again, louder and longer. Was it her imagination, or was someone being tortured...? And if so, who?
A sudden epiteme struck Issabelle in her stomach full force -- that wasn't an ordinary scream -- it was Hermoine! Realizing what was happening, Issabelle felt wide awake, the sound of her adreniline pounding in her head like clashing blades. Now only one question remained... what to do.
The cry came once again, but this time it was a male voice. What had happened? Was Hermione allright? Who was that? ...Harry? Tripping over the buildup of questions forming in her head Issabelle quickened her pace, following the wails until she reached the main hall where the other Death Eaters were gathered. Issabelle felt her breath catch in her throat from what she saw.
Hermoine lay on the stone floor unconcous with blood pooling around her lifeless body. For a moment, Issabelle thought that she was dead, but the girl moved one finger feebly and Issabelle knew that all was not lost. On Hermoine's right was Harry, who was still standing, though her looked close enough to sinking to his knees as well. Issabelle felt her nails go into her own skin as she clenched her hands in fury.
Matters did not improve as Voldemort once again raised his wand and pointed it at Harry, " You will now beg me not to kill you and your little friend... "
" I'll never bow to you, Voldie! Never! " Harry said angrily, trying to move toward the older wizard, but with his first step he was overcome by a powerful spell and fell to the ground, writhering in agony. The gathered Death Eaters all began to laugh at the increasingly greusome display, completely unaware of Issabelle's presence.
" Now is not the tme... " she muttered, " I just hope that I'm not too late. "
At long last, the Death Eaters filed out of the hall and only Voldemort and the two children remained. Taking a deep breath, Issabelle entered the room, and made her way up to them, sending the down-peering wizard a scathing look.
" Hello, Issabelle. " he said, completely unalarmed, " What are you doing up so late? "
" Your little exabition here woke me up. At first I thought I must have had a nightmare, but then I heard another scream before I was asleep and decided I had better find out what the hell was going on. "
" You seem angry... " Voldemort said soothingly, laying his hands on her shoulders gently and caressing them, " Let me take you back to your room. You'll feel much better after a good night's sleep... "
" That's not gonna work, Tom! " Issabelle shouted, " You know what? I was starting to really like you. I thought you were a really nice guy... A little stuck in your ways, but that you'd do the right thing when it really counted -- "
" Tone it down, Issie. You're gonna wake up the whole castle! " Voldemort said in a patronizingly calm voice.
" -- But ya know what? You blew it! This is.. is... sick! I can't even think of another word that begins to discribe what you've done here! "
" Where is Morgana? " Voldemort asked, desperate to change the subject. He could see that Issabelle was hystarical and did not want to get in a fight with her.
" She is at Hogwarts. We visited uncle Albus on our way back. " Issabelle said, not caring how he decided to react to the latter peice of information.
" WHAT?! "
" You heard me. " Issabelle said calmly, " Now, I am going to tend to these children midically and return them to their schooling as well. "
" No you're not. " Voldemort said, as though that settled the arguement.
" Watch me. " she said, walking over to where Harry and Hermoine were lying and pointing her wand at them, " Helio! "
" Don't push your luck with me, Issabelle... " Voldemort warned, once again trying to gently take her back to her room.
" I'm not gonna leave them here so you and your pals can have another go at torturing them, Tom. And don't even bother trying to make any promises to me, you screwed up at that already. "
" My dear, what will it take to convince you? " Voldemort asked, starting to feel his patience slipping away.
" I already told you what I'm doing. " Issabelle said, looking down at Harry and Hermoine, who were struggling to get back up.
" Issie, this is the first time I have ever told you no about anything. Can't you do this for me... just this once? " Voldemort pleaded, looking at her with sympathetic but determined eyes.
" No. I cannot. " Issabelle said, not even bothing to face him, " There are just some things in this world that are more important then you are, and you would be wise to learn that. "
" Issabelle, this is my last warning... Please don't make me stop you... " Voldemort pleaded, lifting her off the ground and trying to carry her away.
" I wish it hadn't come down to this... " Issabelle said, flicking her wand, " Thundra! "
" Ow! " Voldemort said in surprise, letting go of Issabelle and drawing his own wand, " So that's how you feel about me, Issabelle? "
" Not perticularly... I did not plan on this... " Issabelle said, stumbling over the words as they left her mouth.
" You want to duel me for the kids, Issabelle? " Voldemort asked, looking at her nightgown and slippers and letting out a high cold laugh she had never heard him use before. Issabelle had heard stories of that laugh and her stomach tightened as she realized that it wasn't a question, it was a challenge.
" Is that the only way they'll be getting back to Hogwarts? "
" Yes. "
" Well then, Tom... " Issabelle said, rubbing a bit of sleep out of her eyes, " It appears that I have no choice. "
" What a pity, Issabelle... I really liked you. " Voldemort sighed, raising his wand and pointing it at her, " Cucio! "
Issabelle was ready and before the spell could even leave his wand, a softly glowing pink sheild surrounded Issabelle's body and made the curse bounce off. While she was still protected, Issabelle ran to Harry and whispered, " Go to the rosbush and pick a rose and have Hermoine do the same! Hurry! "
" Huh? " Harry said, confused.
" Sendio! " Issabelle shouted, sending Harry and Hermoine to the gardens and hoping he would understand. Turning, she watched as Voldemort finished a rather long chant and gasped in horror, realizing that her sheild had vanished with the children.
" Meteora! " Voldemort shouted, and scorching flames surrounded her, rapidly closing in and not bothing to leave scars as they fused with her terrified body. Their burn was hotter then any flame she had ever heard tell of and as the pain went on, she eventually sank to the ground, unable to stand under its scrutiny. Flashes of brilliant colour began to swirl before her eyes and all at once the pain was gone completely...
Voldemort's anger turned to remorse as he watched Issabelle's body spiral towards the stone floor. Instictively, he scooped her limp body up, with shock about his actions beginning to sink in.
******
Voldemort sat on the velvet coushined stool by Issabelle's bed, holding on of her pale delicate hands softly between both of his own. She had been unconcious for a week now, but at least she wasn't dead. That, he mused, was a miracle... No one had ever survived the Meteora curse before. Gazing yet again at her sleeping figure, Tom felt tears begin to flow from his eyes like a bitter rain.
" Issabelle, " he said, his voice breaking momentarily from a lump in his throat, " If... No, When... you wake up, I swear I'll never let anything ever happen to you again... I can't bare the loss of your company. You've just gotta come back... I love you... "
Though it cannot be proved, Voldemort would still swear to this day that he saw her smile and somehow he knew that everything was going to be alright. The darkest part of the forest was behind them....