Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot, Saerry Snape, and Aeyr's. Nothing more, nothing less.
Lestat's Redemption – It will all be fine in the end. And here comes Sev's reaction.
Chapter 42 **Terror in the Snow**
Harry ran as fast as he could out of the dungeons. Several other Gryffindors cried out to him as he flew past but he ignored them.
He couldn't believe it. After everything that had happened, his father hated him!
Harry choked back a sob, not noticing that he had run outside and was now floundering through the white snow. He kept running, straight down that path that led to Hogsmeade. When he finally stopped it was to slump down in the snow, his back pressed against the cold wall of The Three Broomsticks. He buried his head in his arms and cried there.
Suddenly he heard a noise. Looking up through tear blurred eyes he saw dark shapes moving out of the shadows of buildings. Brushing a hand over his eyes he saw what they were.
Death Eaters.
Harry quickly picked himself up and ran. They were after him. He was the only reason they would be there. But he wouldn't be outside if . . .
It hit him. He had been set up. His father had given him to Voldemort.
Harry screamed inside but kept on running. He could hear the Death Eaters behind him and heard one yell "Crucio!" Throwing himself to the ground, he rolled then sprang back to his feet. One of the Death Eaters threw themselves at him but only got a mouthful of wet snow.
"GET HIM YOU FOOLS!!"
Harry recognized that voice. It was Lucius Malfoy. He was too busy focusing on the voice that he didn't noticed the spell until it hit him.
"CRUCIO!"
Harry choked back as scream as pain rent through him. He toppled to the ground, curling up in a ball as the pain went on. And on. And on. He thought I'm going to die. Their going to kill me. I know it. Harry could sense that he was screaming now but he couldn't feel anything. It was like he had been separated from his body.
Idly he wondered I wonder if this is what its like to die . . .
Just as the pain became too much for his body to bear and he was about to pass out, a scream rent the air. It was like that of a banshee and had the Death Eater's clutching their ears in pain. In turn, the Cruciatus Curse was taken off Harry.
Gasping for breath, Harry opened his eyes to see something orange and red flashing before him, black shapes fleeing before it. He could hear the Death Eater's bellows of pain in his ears and something that sounded like static from a TV.
It all went quiet suddenly and he thought he was alone. He tried to move but pain ripped through him and he screamed. As he clenched his teeth, waiting for the pain to subside, Harry heard a voice hiss, "Are you alright Harry Sssssnape?"
Harry blinked. He hissed weakly in return, "Sssaeln?"
The Aeyr flapped his silvery wings and settled in the snowy next to Harry's head. He hissed soothingly, "Yessss. I will get you help. Wait here."
Harry nodded weakly and heard Saeln take off.
He just hoped the Death Eaters didn't get back their courage.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"FOOLS! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET THE BOY!"
"I'm sorry, lord, but there was a snake . . ."
"EXCUSES!"
"My lord!"
"SILENCE LUCIUS! I WILL HEAR NONE OF IT! YOU, ALL OF YOU, WILL SUFFER FOR FAILING ME!"
The Death Eaters cringed as Voldemort turned blazing red eyes and his wand on Lucius.
"CRUCIO!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Severus walked through the halls, looking for any sign of Harry. He spotted Hermione and Ron but Harry was not with them.
"Granger! Weasley!"
Hermione and Ron turned to see him bearing down on them.
"Professor?"
Severus glanced around the hall then asked, "Have you seen Harry?"
Hermione shook her head and replied, "Not since dinner, sir. He said he was going to the dungeons."
Severus frowned, worried even more now. He looked down at the two of them and said, "Well, if you see him, tell him I'm looking for him." With that he turned and continued his search.
Ron looked after him and growled, "Slimy git."
Hermione glared at him then turned her look into a worried one. "Ron, he really was worried about Harry."
"Yea. Riiiiight."
"Ron, I think Harry may be in trouble."
Ron rolled his eyes and Hermione punched his shoulder.
"HEY!"
"I'M SERIOUS! Harry wouldn't back out of going to the dungeons."
"I would."
Hermione growled warningly, "Ron . . ."
"Alright, alright. I'm being serious."
"You and I are the two people that know Harry best. And we both know he wouldn't back out of something. Especially not going to see Saerry or Snape!"
"Yea, you're right. So what do we do?"
"We look for him," replied Hermione determinedly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Severus growled something under his breath as he stopped in the entrance hall. He had searched through all of the main halls and every secret passageway he knew and there was still no sign of Harry.
Suddenly something hit the main door with a great THUMP and hissed loudly. Severus blinked then threw the doors open, wand at ready. Snow blasted in on him and a green serpent with silvery white wings flew in with it. He blinked. It was an Aeyr, a very rare creature to find. He supposed Hagrid had somehow gotten one for his class.
The Aeyr spotted him, blinked its amber-yellow eyes then curled itself about his arm, hissing furiously. Severus tried to bat it away but stopped. He had a feeling it was trying to tell him something.
Looking straight into the slitted eyes he said, "What are you trying to tell me?"
The Aeyr hissed again and flapped its wings, tugging on his arm.
"Harry Sssssape. In sssssnow. Tired, cannot move himsssself. Sssssaeln get help."
Severus blinked. He hadn't heard a snake talk in years and he almost believed he was hallucinating.
Almost.
He eyed the Aeyr and hissed, "Where?"
"Hogssssmeade."
Severus took off out into the snow at a run, Saeln uncoiling himself from his arm to fly ahead of him, his wings taking on a silvery sheen that shone through the snowstorm.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry tried to move several times after Saeln left but couldn't. Pain lashed though him each time, causing him to scream. He stared wide-eyed out into the dark, wondering when Saeln would return. His cheek was starting to go numb.
A silvery glow flashed over him and Saeln landed in the snow by his head, his wings losing their silver sheen as he folded them to his side. Harry managed to smile weakly at the Aeyr. He didn't hear it hiss, "Over here!"
Something came charging up through the snow from behind him.
"HARRY!"
Severus fell on his knees at his son's side. The boy was shivering from the cold, his lips already beginning to turn blue, and his body curled up. Severus knew that position. The Cruciatus Curse caused that.
Brushing a snow flecked lock of his son's long hair back he whispered, "Harry? Harry, can you hear me?"
There was silence and Severus almost thought he was too late, that Harry was gone. But then a weak voice gasped, "D – Dad?"
Severus blinked, not sure he heard what he'd thought he heard.
"Yes, Harry. It's me. I'm going to get you back up to Hogwart's. This is going to hurt . . ."
As gently as he could Severus picked Harry up. Harry screamed, eyes wide, as pain shot through him again. He was only vaguely of his father's arms around him or the warm spot his cold cheek was now resting against.
Harry slipped towards unconsciousness as Severus whispered, "Your going to be alright Harry. You just hang on. Hang on for me. I can't lose you now." As his son fell unconscious in his arms, Severus ran as fast as he could back up to the school, Saeln flitting before him again.
He was not going to lose his son. And he would find out why Harry had been outside and he would personally torture and maim the person who had nearly killed his son.
A/N: MWAAAHAHAHAAA! Yes, I made Snape a Parselmouth. Heheheh. ^^ And I definitely would not want to be Draco if Sev finds out what he did to Harry….