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, Aeyr's, and the Snapes being Slytherin's Heirs. Nothing more, nothing less.
Teigra – ^^ I don't mind. It saves for me having to rewrite to make since. And I'm glad you caught it! Paying attention to the storyline is a good thing! *beams*
A/N: Ah, and as soon as I am finished with this (I predict 80 or so chapters in all) I'm going to go back and rework some of it as I added things in AND this story originally started out as Sev/Saerry instead of Sev/Saerry/Harry. Until the fourth chapter that is. *chuckle* God, that seems so long ago. ^-^ Anyway, expect updates when I can get them up (I have to chapter 77 written so far) and then rewrite's. The rewrite's may take a while as I probably won't be entirely focused on this story during that time. Work will probably be done on Dominus Venenum, Novus Comitis, and These Dreams during that time as my ideas for HP&tDarkRising and HP&tDarkReborn have run out. But I'm not giving up on them, so don't worry! Also, it may be a while before I update Locked in With a Madwoman. Unsure of when I'll get to all these updates but I'll get them.
Chapter 75 **Preparing for Battle, Part III**
"Professor, how many wards are there?"
McGonagall panted, "F – five."
Harry frowned and shifted his grip on Gryffindors sword as he ran.
"So there are only three left?"
"The strongest one's."
Saerry said, her voice not faltering once for breath, "But if someone had weakened the wards from the inside . . ."
"Easier to break."
Harry scowled and spat, "Damn."
Saerry frowned slightly at him and said, "It is Voldemort. He's trying to get us and Hogwarts." She shrugged slightly and added, "Two birds with one stone, so-to-speak."
Harry snorted then asked, "Where did you – Nevermind. Shouldn't you two get back to the Hall?"
McGonagall nodded, "If we turn left up ahead we'll go straight there."
"Okay. Saerry?"
"I'm with Minerva."
Harry nodded and said, "Then I'm off to find Dad. Watch out for the Slytherins. Preferably Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, Derrick, and Bole. I'm sure there are others but watch for them. And give Flint some slack. I think he's coming around."
Saerry blinked. "Why should we watch them?"
Harry scowled and replied, "They're the one's that beat up Draco. With everything going on I haven't exactly had a chance to say anything about that."
McGonagall frowned and said, "We will watch them, Mr. Snape."
"Good," said Harry. He continued, "I'm off then. Good luck and be careful." With that he sprinted off down a hall, Saeln shooting after him, just as Saerry and McGonagall turned and headed back towards the Great Hall.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Outside, Severus watched as the Death Eaters attacked the third of the five wards. A red haze had formed in the air where the wards were from all the curses set upon them. He frowned as he saw some of the Death Eaters walking around with their masks and hoods down, as if they were going to win and it didn't matter if anyone saw them. Absently, he muttered, "Foolish children."
Madam Pomfrey frowned at him and he gave her a feral smile in return.
Behind them, Sinistra asked, "Shouldn't the Ministry be here by now?"
Remus blandly replied, "They most likely don't know yet. We can't exactly send out an owl and Hogsmeade's been destroyed. I doubt anyone there had time to send an owl."
"Let alone get out," muttered Severus.
Sinistra paled. "You think they're all dead?"
Remus frowned at her and replied, "No one really lives in Hogsmeade but Rosemerta and the couple that runs the inn. And they're both located closer to us than at the other end of the village. We can only hope they managed to Floo or Apparate out."
Sinistra frowned then Flitwick asked, "How will the Ministry know?"
Severus snapped, not turning his head back towards them, "They won't. Unless by some miracle of God we can contact them but I would presume that Voldemort has blocked any form of communication from getting in or out of Hogwarts."
Everyone but Dumbledore and Remus gaped at him.
"How would he do that?" asked Sprout.
"There are way," replied Severus darkly before he fell silent.
Vector asked, "But why would You-Know-Who launch this kind of attack?"
Severus rolled his eyes and Dumbledore said, "It seems the Snape's are the direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin."
Madam Pomfrey, Sprout, Sinistra, Vector and Flitwick cast fearful looks at Severus and took a step back. Sinistra muttered, "That explains the sword."
Severus sneered at them then shuddered. He looked out towards the red-hazed wards and whispered, "Dementors." The others followed his lead and looked.
The Death Eaters continued their assault on the wards while the towering, hooded forms of the Dementors glided through their ranks. Dumbledore frowned at the creatures while Severus suppressed another shudder. The Potions Master closed his eyes and tightened his grip on Slytherins sword reflexively as he once again heard the dying screams of his parents. A hand suddenly fell on his shoulder and he looked up into Dumbledore's bright blue eyes, which were shadowed and almost gray looking. Severus forced a smile at the older man. Dumbledore was the only one who knew what he heard when he got near Dementors.
Suddenly a streak of silver-white and green shot out a window of the castle and a weight settled on Severus' shoulders. Sinistra and Sprout jumped back with a yelp as Saeln turned his yellow-amber eyes towards them.
Severus frowned at the Aeyr and hissed, "Where'sss Harry?"
Saeln whipped his head back around as Sinistra, Sprout, Flitwick, and Vector all stared at Severus. He replied, "Coming behind me. The ssstudents are in the Ancient Place."
Severus blinked. "The Ancient Place? You mean the Chamber of Secrets?"
Saeln nodded and hissed, "Yesss. The great cousin of my kind resssted there once. No longer.
"The Basssilisssk?"
"Yesss."
Severus nodded then said to the other professors, "He says the students are safely in the Chamber of Secrets and Harry is heading in this direction."
Flitwick asked, "All the students?"
Severus frowned and hissed something to Saeln, who shook his head then hissed in returned.
"No. Minerva took the fourth years and below there. The other students are in the Great Hall."
Madam Pomfrey growled, "And my patients?"
Severus looked at her and replied, "Most likely in the Chamber as well. We can ask Harry when he gets here."
"Which will be when?" asked Sprout.
The castle's main doors suddenly burst open and a cry went up from the Death Eaters. Harry hurtled down the steps and staggered as he felt the effects of the Dementors. A second later he righted himself and jogged over to the gaggle of professors. As soon as he was close he said, "Professor McGonagall and Saerry are going back for the fifth, sixth, and seventh years." His gave shifted to Saeln and he added, "I suppose you already know about the other students."
Dumbledore nodded and was about to say something when there was a thunderous boom and the ground rattled hard enough under their feet that all of them but Remus staggered and Flitwick fell down. Severus cursed fluently as the red haze that had been the third of the five wards collapsed.
Harry muttered, "Shit," and Severus glared pointedly at him. The teen simply returned the glare.
Hagrid appeared suddenly from behind them and boomed, "They're tryin' ter get through the forest. Firenze came and told me."
"Aye, I did. The Battle of the Serpents is at hand.
From behind Hagrid came Firenze, the palomino centaur who had saved Harry in the Forbidden Forest in his first year. Harry smiled slightly and said, "Hello, Firenze."
The centaur bowed and said, "Hello again, Harry Potter. Or should I say Snape?"
Harry smiled and said, with a sort of air of pride, "Snape."
Dumbledore looked at them then said, "Hagrid, Florence, Filius, go to the forest. As soon as Minerva and Saerry arrive, we shall send some of the students to help you. Hold them back as long as you can."
The three nodded and set off, Flitwick being carried by Hagrid, as he wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace. Firenze looked after them for a moment then said, "Serpens and Hydra are about to battle." His pale sapphire eyes turned upon Harry and he continued, "But Fornax will lay the deciding hand when Leo gives his life. Good luck, Harry Snape." The sapphire eyes flicked to Severus and he added, "And to you as well, Severus Snape." With that Firenze turned and galloped off towards the forest.
Harry frowned and said, "Did anyone understand a word of that?"
Severus said, "We, Serpens is Latin for Serpent, which might be talking about Voldemort." Vector, Sprout, and Madam Pomfrey flinched.
"Or you," said Harry.
Severus frowned at him and continued, "As I was saying. Hydra means Water Snake and Leo is Lion but I'm not sure what Fornax is exactly . . . ."
"Furnace," supplied Vector.
Severus scowled at him and Harry said, "So, the Serpent and the Water Snake are about to fight but the Furnace will be the one to win the battle but only after the Lion gives his life." His brow furrowed and he muttered, "What the hell does that mean?"
"Harry," growled Severus.
"Dad, later, remember? We kind of have a bit more of a crisis than my use of profanity."
Severus grumbled something then spun around as there was a louder explosion than before and the ground rattled hard enough to be mistaken for an earthquake. He cursed and spat, "One ward left."
Sprout and Madam Pomfrey paled and Harry drew Gryffindors sword from his belt. Dumbledore looked stonily at the Death Eaters beyond the last ward then said, "I suggest you get back up to the castle, Poppy." Madam Pomfrey gaped at him for a moment then nodded and left.
Second after she was gone, the fifth, sixth, and seventh year's students poured out of the entrance hall onto the grounds. Some cried out in terror at the sight of the Death Eaters and some drew their wands with determined looks on their faces. McGonagall appeared at the head of the crowd, yelling and waving her wand. Moments later there was a shout and Saerry burst out of the crowd, running straight into Remus' arms. The two hugged and kissed and Severus, Harry, Dumbledore, Sprout, and Vector turned away from them.
Dumbledore shot sparks into the air for silence and strode over to McGonagall. They talked quietly for a moment then McGonagall nodded. She turned and said something to the students then set off towards the Forbidden Forest with a third of them trailing after her. Dumbledore said something to the rest of the students then walked back over to the tiny group.
Moments later there was a crackling sound, like static. Silence fell as everyone turned to the Death Eaters outside the wards. The wards themselves were laved with interlacing lightning patterns in red and green light. Outside the wards, the Death Eaters howled out a curse together and the Dementors shoved their dead man's hands against the last of the wards.
Hearts leapt into mouths and wands into hands as the static sound amplified.
Seconds later the last ward collapsed in a hurricane roar and the sea of Death Eaters and Dementors surged forward.
Harry clamped one hand on Gryffindors sword and the other on his wand as Severus growled, "Here they come."
A/N: Mwaaahaha, cliffie. ^^ 76 coming right up! *drum roll* LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!!!