My way to show gratitude is a little strange, especially in part of Tehhie (you will see), but i can swear almost all the heroes are going to survive.Almost.
Other readers-PLS REVIEW IT!It makes me happy to read reviews (if they are good, of course), and happy author-bless for heroes (otherwise the death and destruction will be everywhere).
See ya all in Severus Snape Club!
Juliss the Severed Snake (Headmaster Severus Snape).
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Chapter 2: The little prank of Voldie.
They flied over the dark moors,swamps and rocks of northern Wales, where
the Malfoy's Manson was built about
thousand years ago.Snape remembered well the spiky turrets and crumpled
battlements of enchanted castle, where he
has been spending most of his school holidays after his father death.
At least Malfoy coughed and broke off the silence:
-Well.It wasn't too clever to send a ghost.
-What?
-I said, it wasn't too clever to send Tehhie to spy after us.The trust
is the basis of business, isn't it? My Lord had been
very disappointed when he came across sneaking specter.
-And why you concluded that it was me who sent the ghost?-asked Snape
flatly, but cursing in his soul.
-In general, ghosts are supposed to be almost ideal spies-sniggered
Malfoy-almost invulnerable, no pain, no fear, yeah?But My Master has
his own ways to question unwanted visitors.Be sure she told us all
about your little contract.
-And may be, she lied?
-Don't think so.Ghosts or living people-all becomes very honest and
talkative in my Master's presence.
-I can imagine,-muttered Snape-what you...or YOUR MASTER...are going
to do with her?
-And it depends on your behavior-smiled Lucius with unmasked sneer-try
to please My Lord-and it all will be ok with your
little friend.
After that the silence was set in the car until the Oak Grove Rock,
crowned with the shadow of castle, became
visible.Usual veil of mist and moisture concealed the ancient walls,unseen
by common eye.Branches of enchanted oaks,
twisted and tangled, enclosed the top of cliff in ominous circle,impassable
for unwanted guests, and the storm,circling
around the peak, has been making trespassing even more dangerous.
Flying car dived into the center of storm and landed on the square
top of one of the old towers.
-Damn, with dragons it was by far more convenient!-exclaimed Malfoy-see,
i have enormous stalls under the castle, but
only one dragon, aged sleepy Horntail.You remember him, yes?
-Yeah, unsatisfactory indeed-muttered Snape, at that moment not a bit
interested in dragon problems.
They walked to the trapdoor, with half-effaced engraving of Malfoy's
family crest on it-Malfoy tapped it with his wand to
prevent the eruption of fierce flames from the ornament- and descended
the narrow glum staircase to the one of large
halls of castle.
***
The worst Snape's presentiments seemed to became true.Malfoy left him
in the small wet room, covered by cobwebs and dust, and disappeared.But
several minutes after, when unlucky Headmaster exhausted his stocks of
curses ("Severus, you are
idiot!Why couldn't you just take the poison or jump from the top of
Northern Tower?!"), door swung open and four sulky men
in black robes (Death Eaters, of course) marched into the chamber and
escorted the prisoner (because Snape had no doubts
that the prisoner he is)to the one of dining rooms ("well, at least
not in dungeons"-thought Headmaster with a sigh of relief,
because he was aware about the excellent torture machines, hidden in
Malfoy's Manson dungeons from the inquisition times).
Severus remembered this room from his school years-it was the biggest
one, with ancient armors around the walls, mosaic
ceiling and majestic tapestries, woven by elven women about five centuries
ago.
Now, however, the chamber changed and became almost unrecognizable.Great
table, made of old dark timber, disappeared.Tapestries were scorched and
ripped, and soot and smoke covered magical mosaics.
-Well, well-smiled Snape-old father Malfoy would kill us for this in
his days.
But his smile faded when he glanced at the opposite part of the room.There,
in the center of the cage, made from shining beams of light, was Tehhie.But
not the child-like silver ghost of girl-pale and barely visible specter,
blurred at the edges and quivering, as leaf on the wind.
-Welcome, Severus-sounded from the behind.High-pitched, inhuman voice,
voice that Snape hated even more than he hated Potter and Black together.
He turned around unwillingly and faced his former master, the man whose
face haunted his worst nightmares for 27 years-Lord Voldemort.
Dark Lord stayed into the corner of the room, surrounded by Death Eaters-Lucius
Malfoy in their number.To Snape's surprise here was Wormtail, grinning
at him insolently and making rather rude signs by his brand-new shining
hand, made of bright metal; Rosier and Dolohov, obviously living and vigorous;Lestranges,
only a two days from Azkaban, pale and exhausted;sulky McNair and several
others.
-Conceit,proud and curiosity-sneered Voldemort-the best allurements
i ever knew.Of course,you was too arrogant to admit that your best school
friend simply betrayed you.
Snape shot a hard glance at Malfoy, who seemed to be not in raptures
over the speech of his boss.He fidgeted with his wand nervously and modestly
tried to keep out of sight behind the McNair's back.
-Well, Severus-proceeded Dark Lord-you imagined that i'm going to ask
you to bring me Potter boy? But you forgot that everyone who was on my
service remains on it-willingly or unwillingly.And Potter is almost in
my hands already, i don't need your miserable help.That's time for you
to pay for your treachery, for you arrogant mind that you could foil me
and escape the punishment!
It might be boring, because Voldemort wasn't too eloquent and all his
talks was the copies of each other-and Snape listened a loads of them 15
years ago-but it was something fishy in this one."Damn-thought Snape-well,
you old crazy griffon, it's clear that you are going to kill me, so for
what all this long introduction?"
His own fate didn't distress him too much, because he half-expected
it, but Tehhie...He got her into this mess, and to his own surprise it
troubled him more than all the Voldemort's threats.But he was quick enough
to understand that by no means he mustn't show it to the old murderer.
-Hunting down ghosts and children, decent business for you, my dear
Master-smirked Severus-you at least allowed Potter to duel with you.What
about me? Or you prefer kids and girls for adversaries?
However, Voldemort's sense of humor was ill-fitted for jokes of this
kind, because next thing Severus saw was the floor, flying right into his
forehead.
-Crucio!-hissed a high-pitched voice over his head, and for several
long minutes-or centuries-the world vanished from Snape's sight,and only
purple circles under his eyelids and unbearable pain remained.May be he
cried and may be not-anyway, he wasn't able to hear his own voice.But the
torment stopped suddenly.
-No, don't provoke me-whispered Voldemort, bending over him,-i still
need you for one interesting experiment.
Snape forced himself to rise and sat, leaning on shaking hands.
-I didn't finish the work on my new spell-continued Voldemort-I am
sure Malfoy told you about it.Very fascinating spell, indeed, but i still
don't know whether it works on ghosts.You and your little friend gave me
a nice possibility to check it.You can do it by your own will or under
Imperius curse, as Moody and Longbottom did-it's you right to choose.
Snape narrowed his eyes, still dizzy after Cruciatus curse, and peered
into Voldemort's ruby snake orbs.
-Well...What have i do?
-No sense to conceal the fact that only the person who killed her-Voldemort
pointed at pale shade of Tehhie-could revive her.
"Hmm-realized Snape-that's why you need all these poor guys.Moody,
Longbottom...Disgusting company"
-Just point on her with your wand and say:"Mervitus Statem!".And don't
drop your wand!-scorned Dark Lord.
-And after that?
-Don't think it will be something for you after that-laughed he, and
all the Death Eaters erupted into giggles.
-As about the girl...Well, may be i will let her go-but, judging by
pitiless smile that curled Voldemort's thin lips, Snape concluded that
the Tehhie's chances are almost zero.Anyway...if there is life, there is
hope-Dumbledor said once (quoting somebody else, no doubts), and it was
the one point where the current Headmaster was agree with the previous
one.
Snape scrambled on his knees, then rose at full height and limped to
the magical cage.About ten wands were pointed on him, and two Death Eaters
walked on his side, to ensure that prisoner wasn't ready for some unpleasant
surprise.
-Tehhie-called he softly.She didn't answer and didn't show any sign
that she can hear him.Now, when he stayed that near, ghost looked even
more terrible-she resembled the little cloud of mist, ready to melt on
the severe wind.
"You will pay for it!"-swore Snape wordlessly, glaring at grinning
white mask which served Voldemort for face.Severus was sure that his pledge
is nothing but words, but somehow it gave him strength to rose his wand
and utter:"Mervitus Statem!".
No jet of light, no flames shot from the wand-but Severus felt as the
incontrovertible power seized his hand, his body and his soul-power, that
was able to suck the living breath from him-and this power streamed from
his wand to the dim figure of ghost.He shuddered and fell on his knees,
half-blind and half-deafened by terrible screams of Tehhie.Girl's obscure
outline trembled-and vanished.Snape's wand heated and scorched his hand
as white-hot iron bar.His conscience cried :"Drop it!Let it go!" but he,
scarcely clang at the edge of reality, held it firmly.
It lasted for centuries.Then the wand, scorched and smoldering, burst-and
the body of girl dropped onto the floor.Severus reached for her just to
check,whether she's breathing, but his legs foiled him at last and he lost
his conscience.
***
The touch of something cold to his cheek brought him back.He opened
his eyes to see somebody's hand with scissors and lock of black hair.His
hair.
He rose eyes and realized that he's still laying onto the floor of
the dining room, Malfoy with his scissors in hand knelt next to him.
-He woke up!-shouted Malfoy, when noticed his glance.
With great effort Severus stirred-his scorched almost to the bones
arm paid for this immediately by piercing pain-but his attention was stuck
to the group of black-robed men.
-He's stronger than i supposed-uttered one of them with the slight
shadow of surprise in his voice, and Snape recognized Voldemort.-The girl
is alive, but he is alive, too.Weird.Well, kill him and i will kill the
girl.
Lucius smiled and point his wand at Snape's chest.
-At last, OLD FRIEND.I waited for that all these years.
-I have to admit you concealed it pretty well-answered Severus with
wry smile.
-Of course.Lucius and Severus, best Slytherin's pals.But you always
first.First in Dark Arts, first in fights, even in hatred-Potter and black
really hated you, but they were sure i'm not worth for it, they simply
despised me!
-It seems now i got their point-hissed Snape through the gritted teeth,
ignoring his hurting hand and moving a little to the nearest wall.Death
Eaters backed from the spot where unconscious Tehhie laid, and Voldemort
pulled out his wand.
-It might be better even don't kill you-continued Malfoy-Because who
are you now?Just useless wreck, nothing more!All the wizards who performed
this spell or died, or, even if survived, lost all their magical power,
we checked it!Imagine yourself in Muggle world,without help, without magic...
Snape felt as the cold sweat stood out on his forehead.It might be
true, because he felt...strange...As if the part of him vanished, and a
dark hole remained in his soul and body.But he forbade himself to think
about it and continued his slow motion.
Voldemort rose his wand...
-You can crawl, but it won't help you, my master ordered...
But Malfoy throttled when Snape rushed to the wall and pushed a small
button at the foot of armored statue.
The central part of the floor glided aside with abominable grinding
noise and fell into underlying darkness.With terrible howl Death Eaters
and Voldemort vanished into the gaping hole.
-Don't remember exactly what is on the bottom, pit with fire and boiling
pitch or just rusted blades-smiled Snape into shocked Malfoy's countenance,-your
dad showed us it when i was here on my second Hogwarts holidays, remember?
Malfoy's eyes nearly pocked out of sockets, and with strangled wail
he lunged on Snape.Severus met him with the well-aimed punch, but he was
too weak now to knock Malfoy out.Enraged Death Eater seized his neck and
tried to throttle him, not without a success, because Snape's crumpled
hand was of no use, and he was still half-alive after reviving spell.He
was about to bid farewell to living world when Lucius' grip weakened-suddenly
Malfoy jerked and with loud thud his head went into ancient set of armor.Snape
pushed Malfoy's unconscious body aside and gaped at Tehhie.Girl was pale
and panting, but pretty alive, with enormous spear (obviously stolen from
one of statues) in her hands.
-Well, and what we are going to do now?