ICLYLM Chapter 32 "Every Dog Has It's Day"
A/N: thanks to faithful reader/reviewers! Ayod botla, Bdwrm, Kazza, Leandra. LoPotter, Raven, Rheanna, Skyfire, and to new readers Elanor and Mike for your kind and encouraging words. I always appreciate reviews so much, now more than ever.
Ayod, this chapter is VERY short... but there's a very nice long one coming... I just had to break this where I broke it!
Not one but two sets of footfalls were approaching the barn. "Damn" Severus whispered. again. Apparently Wormtail wasn't the only one left in the Riddle House with Voldemort. He'd forgotten McNair. Suddenly Snuffles was shoving him toward the pile of burlap sacks. He didn't need to be told twice. He waved his wand at them to levitate a good portion of the pile and dove under letting the sacks settle over him as he arranged himself so that he could see out a small opening. His wand was ready, he just hoped he was.
The dogs ruffed to one another then followed Snuffles away from the corner and the pile of sacks. Would the Death Eaters just see the dogs and dismiss them; or would they feel the need to have a little sport with them as Malfoy had? Severus doubted Black was well enough to even change back into a wizard so that left him to grapple with McNair and Wormtail. Well, as a rule Wormtail wasn't a big problem. McNair, however, had the finely honed fighting instincts of a warrior. Snape could probably stupefy Wormtail before he knew what hit him; but he feared in the seconds it took to do so McNair would take the advantage. But, then, he had the advantage of surprise. They didn't know he was here (though they surely suspected someone was) or where he was. He could probably stupefy Wormtail from his hiding place. If he rolled away from the pile of sacks quickly enough he might be able to face McNair before the man got a bead on him.
There was a creak of hinges and the sudden appearance of wandlight ("good instincts, little brains" Snape thought). The dogs set up an awful racket of noisy barking. Snape tensed. The next few moments would tell the tale.
"Dogs! Ye drug me out here for Dogs!" McNair could be heard growling irritably above the awful yapping.
"I saw a light in here, moving!" came the stubborn voice of Wormtail
"Sure ye did, laddie! The dogs lit themselves a wee candle!"
"McNair, I know what I saw. Dismiss it if you will. You go on back to the Dark Lord and tell him you didn't take it seriously while I have a look about." Wormtail snapped.
"Fine, wee man, ye go first, why don't ye?" McNair sneered.
"Sit, heel!" Wormtail squeaked at the barking dogs. None did any such thing. Snape saw the glint of the silver hand rising in the air before he heard an "oof!" from what sounded like Wormtail.
"Dinnae hit 'em ye fool! Ye'll just get yourself bit!" McNair growled.
The light of one of the wands swung sharply and McNair could be heard saying "locomotor Mortis!" A thump followed and Wormtail could be heard saying "Locomotor-" but he was interrupted by an alarming rise in the pitch and viciousness of the dog's noise. They had launched themselves on the dark wizards snapping, biting, and snarling. Wormtail could be heard whimpering his distress while McNair growled as the light from his wand swung about wildly.
Snape stuck his wand through the opening yelling "Stupefy!" and hitting McNair squarely. He then moved it to hit Wormtail who toppled, unconscious onto McNair. What was the phrase he had been thinking of earlier? "That was easy, too easy." He crawled out from under the sacks and quickly scooped up both wands... still lit. He used them to check the dark wizards. Out cold. He then turned to Ripper who was growling on the floor unable to move his locked legs. "Finite Incantatum" Snape said, releasing him. Ripper jumped to his feet and scrambled over to the fallen wizards, biting each of them in turn.
Snape watched him, then crouched down next to Snuffles, "Can you transform, Snuffles?" The dog swung it's head from side to side. "Ah, then you obviously can't apparate." Snape said, thinking aloud. He looked at the unconscious wizards and bit his lip in indecision. McNair he didn't care about. But Wormtail... a.k.a. Peter Pettigrew... Produciing him for the Ministry of Magic would clear Sirius Black's name. There was little love lost between Snape and Black but events of the past year or so had allowed an understanding to be forged between them. That, and people Snape did love cared about the animagus' fate. All this aside, Severus had no love of injustice. He would be loath to leave Wormtail behind regardless of his feelings toward Black.
Snuffles nudged him impatiently. "Wait a moment, Padfoot," Severus said, deliberately using Sirius' nickname to soothe the animal. Still, Sirius was right. They'd kicked up quite a ruckus and there was no telling who else was in the house to be sent up to investigate. He needed to get Snuffles far enough away to apparate them both.
"Blast it!" Severus thought rising to his feet and feeling his muscles and nerves shake. He would be lucky to muster enough energy to get Black and himself back and he would have to bond Black to him to apparate them both. He couldn't levitate and apparate Wormtail, too. It was far too risky. Snape thought of a string of rare and foul expletives in Gobbledegook, the Goblin language. He would have to leave Wormtail.
Still, he might have just enough energy... he pointed his wand at Wormtail and McNair in turn muttering "Petrificus Totalis Maximus" With another wave of his wand the pile of sacks moved sideways. Another flick and swift kick and the dark wizards were propelled into the corner. Finally Snape dropped the sacks atop them. He was going to snap both wands and toss them away when he thought the better of it and pocketed them.
"Snuffles, follow me, we've got to hurry, I've wasted too much time already."
The dog looked at him and back toward his three friends. Snape understood immediately. How did you thank creatures who had helped you out of nothing save goodness? He moved toward the three dogs and scratched them behind the ears in turn as Snuffles nuzzled each one quickly. With a few light "ruffs" Snuffles then turned and moved to Severus' side.
Severus and Snuffles moved quickly and quietly out of the barn moving to each of the landmarks Severus had used earlier. With each passing moment Snape had to resist the urge to hold his breath out of fear someone would soon follow. Finally they gained the shelter of the woods and Severus leaned heavily against the tree he had earlier. How long ago, now? He looked at his watch. It was well after eleven. Voldemort would be looking for him soon, it was time to leave the evil wizard behind.
It seemed he wasn't the only one with that idea. As he looked a last time toward the Riddle House, he saw three dogs emerge from the small barn and go streaking joyfully across the field and away from that evil place. Severus bound Snuffles to him and did the same.
