Ron's Worst Nightmare
Chapter Seventeen: Merciful Death
If Lupin himself as a Werewolf could only see black and white..... could it be that the monster could be so limited as well? The wolfic mind turned and toiled in agonizingly slow thoughts. With impatience he stamped the ground and paced angrily back and forth in frustration just beyond the creature's reach. Inside the invisible sphere of magic the creature had matched the wolf's pace, shuffling from one row of claws to the next. Lupin could hear the creaking of the rock hard exoskeleton and the blood curdling rasp of low groans and crackles. Must this monster make so much commotion? He was trying to find a way to kill it!
He stalked the half of the sphere he could get to, all the way to one blocked off wall of holly to another. Lucius was smart. He had set the spell just so that no matter where any intruder tried to attack the monster from, it could still see them as a black blot on white. The only way through would be the holly, as any logical burglar would think next. That would be impossible for any human, though. Undoubtedly Malfoy would have thought of such a possibility and poisoned the plant with some vile potion. Lupin could tell from where he stood that the holly flaunted jagged thorns he guessed could be red, if the wizard had used the right potion which enabled the thorns to cut, even with the lightest brush of flesh. If he remembered correctly, foot long thorns adorning a holly bush could prove to be quite a trying hassle, but there had to be a way through. Nothing is impossible, or else there would not be magic, now would there?
From the far east side, the beast's intense odor only worsened and bombarded Lupin's sensitive nose. Lolling out his hot red tongue and breathing resolutely through his mouth, he ignored the gigantic sequestered mass next to him and concentrated on finding a possible route through to the other side in the solid, prickly wall of holly and deadly thorns.
A way, a way, my kingdom for a way! Lupin stalked up to the impenetrable plant and pressed his paws against a twining square. It bent under his touch and he pushed more, and more until he felt the slightest prick of a sharp object. Panic flooded his head, he had been punctured by a thorn!
Drawing sharply back, he licked at his tiny wound, wracking his brains for being so stupid. Though, even after licking away and waiting, nothing happened. That's odd, he thought, The last time I saw it prick someone's finger, they died.....
But then again, he did not have fingers, he had thickly padded paws. Narrowing his burning eyes, Lupin pressed his face into the giant bush and tentatively felt around with his nose. The thorns were spaced evenly. Evenly enough that a normal human could not get through. But a wolf.....
He scrambled clumsily into the holly, yelping when the long hairs of his tail tangled. Well, he thought with wry amusement, I'm in, but what will this do but mess up my tail?
The beast roared in frustration, having lost sight of what it had guessed to be its next warm blooded meal.
Wait, he cannot see me. That must mean he only has smell, and with all this pungent perfume of the thorns and holly, he'll not be able to detect me!
Whining softly, very pleased with himself indeed, Lupin found solid footing and began to snake his way over to the wall of the spell that hid the creature's cage. Poking his head through two heavy leaves, he watched (now actually looking inside the sphere of the spell) as the creature, a massive cross between a lobster and a bear, trudged back and forth from one side of its prison to the other, moaning deep in its throat, great yellow bloodshot eyes rolling in frustration and flecks of foam flying from his black lips as its mouth frothed.
Lupin looked closer at the magicked iron bars holding the monster in. He knew the spell, having once taken a short course on such magic. The cage kept the monster in, but the moment something else touched the bars, or went through, it would be freed. A clever trick, but not if the occupant was struck from somewhere unexpected. Especially if struck by a heavy creature with powerful claws and an iron bite.
The whole eerie silence of the courtyard was shattered as a long mournful baying raced through every crevice and corner. The creature screamed, confused, and tried to find the sound, only more so confused by the cry echoing off of the empty night. It was then that Lupin struck, leaping from the dark branches that had concealed him and easily slipping between the bars, latching onto the back of the creature's putrid smelling neck where it met its armored back. He bit down, claws ripping and tearing, anchoring him to its massive back, breaking through a split in the exoskeleton. His lower legs pumped at the creatures shell, disabling whole sheets of the hard stuff. He could feel the back of the furry head toss and turn, trying to snap at him with gaping jaws and chipped, rotting teeth.
This thing is nothing, he realized. Actually, he felt a fair amount of sympathy for it. What a life to lead. He wasn't even sure if it had eaten in the past..... year. Lupin thought to end it quickly and do the both of them a favor.
Clamping onto the top of its head, he reached round, still clawing with his back legs, and jabbed his paws into its eyes. The poor monster staggered, moaning louder and louder in increasing pain. Lupin tore at its thin flesh, ripping its lids and its brow to shreds. It had slumped to the ground by the time he finally aimed the killing bite at the pulsing throat, ending the sorrowful life and warily backing away as its body convulsed in the last death throes of the nerve system. He watched it somberly for a few more minutes before quietly disappearing back the way he came.
He knew he needn't worry of the courtyard beyond. Lucius wouldn't dare spell the area visitors Apparated in, such as the Ministry Aurors and his own fellow Death Eaters.
The wolf began trotting faster and faster over the now familiar terrain, skirting any spells he sensed and pausing at the secret door, committing it to a hazy memory before starting off again. Above his lithe form, the moon blazed against the backdrop of black, surrounded by the powder sheen of stars.
~*~
Draco sat calmly in the chair, the only sign of his agitation the grip he had on the wooden arms. Across from him his Father lounged gracefully in a high backed throne like seat, his pewter grays studying his son from under half lowered lids. Draco struggled not to squirm, even *move*. He wouldn't do anything now that more Death Eaters had streamed into the room. They had Harry bound and gagged, standing grimly beside a tied Ron, Lucius taking a small pleasure in reminding his prisoners that the boy need not have a gag to stop any sound from issuing between his silent lips. Hermione and Ginny were in rickety chairs Lucius had conjured up, weak and barely breathing from the curse he had hit them both with simultaneously. Ginny's lids fluttered softly and she whispered the name, "Ron..."
Harry's glasses had been thrown from his face when Lucius had delivered a stinging blow to the side of his head, sending the boy faltering to his knees, where, even at the man's feet, he glared back almost haughtily, a cool green fire in his eyes that wavered only slightly in his now unfocussed world. Draco took a small moment to beg the boy to stop being the hero, just stop for the time with Lucius. He may be able to put on a show for Voldemort and play the wizard along off his blind sided ego - but not with Lucius, he was just too conniving a man to fool easily.
Now Draco was trying not to blink. Something about Lucius made him go still. He heard his heart pounding in his ears, ready to burst. He would scream, scream if no one spoke.....
"Relax, my son. You are agitating our guests." Lucius swept his hand in a wide arc to indicate the others gathered in the room. Harry narrowed his burning eyes and clenched his fists. The scar on his forehead stood out, angry and red. Draco winced even thinking of the pain the boy was enduring now, by the look of his face and the sweat beading over his brow. Ron was peering at Draco pleadingly, sorrowfully. He thinks this is his fault, thought Draco sadly, But it isn't, why won't he understand? There is no way he could've avoided it.
"I am sorry..... *Father*," spat Draco, angered by his friends' suffering. He rested his hands in his lap and bowed his head angelically, hiding his face behind a shield of damp hair, staring at the spotless floor which his feet barely brushed in the tall chair. Lucius smirked and rose from the long table that usually served as his meeting and conference table. Draco looked up when his father rounded the corner and tensed.
Harry swore violently behind his gag, fighting the two Death Eaters that held him. The pale hand had came out of nowhere and caught Draco on the side of his right eye, a long manicured nail slicing the sensitive skin of his upper lid. He fell from the chair and landed in a crumpled heap, staying still until Lucius gripped the collar of his shirt and yanked him up, so that their eyes were level, Draco's feet dangling in the air. He met his father's cool gaze measuredly. Ron stared in disbelief at how alike it was to see. The same control on either face, the same hardness carefully hidden by a cool facade of pleasantries.
The tension hung in the air like a thick mist and the castle itself seemed to let out a soft sigh when Lucius set his son back on his feet and gracefuly glided to his side of the table once more, holding up his hand and in it appearing a tall crystal glass of deep red wine.
"You have the floor, Dragon," he drawled, bored. Draco stared at him blankly. What? Lucius rolled his eyes at his son's quizzical look and said in a clipped tone, "I suggest you offer me some kind of bargain or these nasty mudblood brats will die." The last word was hissed harshly and Draco saw Ginny shudder out of the corner of his eye. He set his jaw firmly and looked his father squarely in the face.
"You need not even ask, Father. Let them go and you can have me of my own free will."
A cold bark of laughter. "Are you worth so much?"
Draco piqued an eyebrow cockily, "Aren't I though, Father? You let them them go, you may have me. Harm them, and I am gone. No more heir, no more regal bloodline. Take your revenge on me, your blasphemous son."
Lucius smiled openly, "That is my boy, my *Dragon*. The Weasels and the......." he sneered, "*mudblood* shall be spared. The Potter boy's verdict is inevitable." Draco shut his eyes tightly. Harry looked almost bored. Ron twisted in his binds, breath hitching as he tried to speak. But it was Hermione who spoke.
"You coward! He-Who - Voldemort is nothing but a madman! You give innocent life all for power, only to die in a few short years." Her eyes burned with passion and her chest heaved. Next to her, Ginny seemed to be trying to hide from Lucius' penetrating glare. He casually waved his wand and Hermione snapped back to the chair, ropes binding her arms and legs to the seat. She growled and snapped, wagging her head from side to side. The chair rocked and they all watched, Lucius amused, as the chair slowly tipped over, crashing to the floor.
"Take them away," Lucius sighed, "Put them all in separate cells. Keep that *creature* bound and do not harm the Potter boy."
As Ron's guard moved, he ripped free and fell forward. Draco swept from his seat and caught his tensed form, holding him close. Their lips met fleetingly before Ron was yanked from his grasp.
Draco watched desperately as his friends were dragged forcibly from the room. He started slightly when a hand brushed his shoulder. How had Lucius got so close all of a sudden? But he ignored the touch, making a small sound in the back of his throat when the last flash of Ron's hair disappeared out the door.
~*~
"What in bloody Hell is *that*?" said Sirius loudly, holding his nose. The werewolf ignored his companion's comment and stepped lightly over the prone figure of the dead monster. He paused momentarily and looked mournfully back at its glassy eyes, now unseeing. Snape swept passed Sirius and walked over the corpse as if it were nothing but a rise in the earth. Charlie kneeled down and rested his hand against the thing's face. Bill wrinkled his nose and looked at the female Auror. Iris shrugged and followed the Potions master. She had seen worse.
"We may just walk in," Snape told them upon mounting the tall stairs leading to a giant front entrance way. Lupin took the steps five by five, resting on his haunches at the top while the others caught up. Snape raised his hand to the door.
"Wait," said Sirius hurriedly, digging in his pockets. Snape pursed his lips, but let the man carry on until the Auror pulled out a tiny slab of red crystal. Iris' eyes brightened and she did likewise, pulling an exact replica.
"Are you sure, Sirius," she whispered. At Sirius' solemn nod, she took a deep breath and nodded at Snape. "Go ahead, Severus. Open the door. If worst comes to worst and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named shows up, we'll at least have backup if we can manage to survive for an hour or so."
"Lovely," said Severus sarcastically and rapped twice on the door and paused, rapping twice more and standing back. A house elf peeked around the door frame and started to say in a tiny voice, "The Master is not in right now. You maybe come back to see Master later..." Then she caught sight of Snape and lowered her eyes. "Missy is sorry, sir. Master will come down and see you-"
"No, Missy. Do not bother. Lucius is excepting me - I shall notify him of my presence myself."
The little house elf nodded, obviously quite familiar with the man. She scurried off after shutting the door behind the group, looking curiously over the others. But one look from Snape stopped that and she was gone.
"What now?" whispered Bill, looking around in awe at the grand gothic atmosphere the house existed in. Snape's lip curled at the question and he started off down an opposite hall, his long cloak billowing out behind his gaunt figure. Iris followed immediately behind them, and Bill after her, followed by Charlie pulling along Sirius, who was loudly protesting a suspicious bottle of brandy in an ancient case by the door.
They rounded a corner, Snape still in the lead. Bill and Charlie, never being in such lavish surroundings, stumbled along, holding onto each other for support and balance. Iris viewed everything around her with a expert eye, and Lupin stuck to Snape's side while Sirius grumbled about a perfectly good bottle of brandy going to waste.
He looked up, brandy forgotten, when Lupin's ruff along his back prickled and a low growl issued from the black lips. They all raised their wands and backed into a tight circle. Iris ran her thumb over the stone that would save their life if it came to it. She noticed Sirius do the same.
"Severus, how it pleases me to see you again." A petite figure detached from the shadows and Lupin yelped, scrambling back into Sirius' legs. Bill and Charlie's eyes bugged and they faltered, almost dropping their wands. Iris' eyes gleamed with an odd look and Snape lowered his wand and said calmly as if stating the weather, "Likewise I'm sure, my lord."
Sirius flinched and almost cried out when an ice cold hand touched his own, long fingers tracing over his knuckles to brushed the stone lying in his palm. Snape kept talking to the Dark Lord, but his fingers were pressing Sirius'. The man did not need to be asked twice. He perched the stone across his pointer finger and pressed the thin edge with his thumb. Snape added to the pressure and the Auror felt a soft sigh escape his lips as he felt the tiny shard snap in two.
"Severus, my old friend. I would tell your companions to put away their wands. It shall be no use." He stepped further from the shadows and Charlie felt his stomach do somersaults. Bill's must've been doing the same for he felt his older brother's hand grip his. They both paled and their knees started to shake when more forms detached themselves from the shadows. Many many shapes in long black cloaks.
Voldemort smiled.
"Welcome home, Severus. And so nice to bring along a homecoming gift for me...."
A/N: Sorry this is so short. It's actually a continuation of chapter sixteen, but my computer said that it was too long so I had to chop it up into two parts. Mrrrrrrmph. Anyhoosiolies, you have my most esteemed admiration if you have made it so far and are present for one last chappie. Yup, Ron's Worst Nightmare is gonna be done next chapter. *grin* I swear, I'm going to be crying. *sob* So if you read chappie eighteen, be patient if I include a sappy speech. ^_^ Au revior!
~*Villain*~
Chapter Seventeen: Merciful Death
If Lupin himself as a Werewolf could only see black and white..... could it be that the monster could be so limited as well? The wolfic mind turned and toiled in agonizingly slow thoughts. With impatience he stamped the ground and paced angrily back and forth in frustration just beyond the creature's reach. Inside the invisible sphere of magic the creature had matched the wolf's pace, shuffling from one row of claws to the next. Lupin could hear the creaking of the rock hard exoskeleton and the blood curdling rasp of low groans and crackles. Must this monster make so much commotion? He was trying to find a way to kill it!
He stalked the half of the sphere he could get to, all the way to one blocked off wall of holly to another. Lucius was smart. He had set the spell just so that no matter where any intruder tried to attack the monster from, it could still see them as a black blot on white. The only way through would be the holly, as any logical burglar would think next. That would be impossible for any human, though. Undoubtedly Malfoy would have thought of such a possibility and poisoned the plant with some vile potion. Lupin could tell from where he stood that the holly flaunted jagged thorns he guessed could be red, if the wizard had used the right potion which enabled the thorns to cut, even with the lightest brush of flesh. If he remembered correctly, foot long thorns adorning a holly bush could prove to be quite a trying hassle, but there had to be a way through. Nothing is impossible, or else there would not be magic, now would there?
From the far east side, the beast's intense odor only worsened and bombarded Lupin's sensitive nose. Lolling out his hot red tongue and breathing resolutely through his mouth, he ignored the gigantic sequestered mass next to him and concentrated on finding a possible route through to the other side in the solid, prickly wall of holly and deadly thorns.
A way, a way, my kingdom for a way! Lupin stalked up to the impenetrable plant and pressed his paws against a twining square. It bent under his touch and he pushed more, and more until he felt the slightest prick of a sharp object. Panic flooded his head, he had been punctured by a thorn!
Drawing sharply back, he licked at his tiny wound, wracking his brains for being so stupid. Though, even after licking away and waiting, nothing happened. That's odd, he thought, The last time I saw it prick someone's finger, they died.....
But then again, he did not have fingers, he had thickly padded paws. Narrowing his burning eyes, Lupin pressed his face into the giant bush and tentatively felt around with his nose. The thorns were spaced evenly. Evenly enough that a normal human could not get through. But a wolf.....
He scrambled clumsily into the holly, yelping when the long hairs of his tail tangled. Well, he thought with wry amusement, I'm in, but what will this do but mess up my tail?
The beast roared in frustration, having lost sight of what it had guessed to be its next warm blooded meal.
Wait, he cannot see me. That must mean he only has smell, and with all this pungent perfume of the thorns and holly, he'll not be able to detect me!
Whining softly, very pleased with himself indeed, Lupin found solid footing and began to snake his way over to the wall of the spell that hid the creature's cage. Poking his head through two heavy leaves, he watched (now actually looking inside the sphere of the spell) as the creature, a massive cross between a lobster and a bear, trudged back and forth from one side of its prison to the other, moaning deep in its throat, great yellow bloodshot eyes rolling in frustration and flecks of foam flying from his black lips as its mouth frothed.
Lupin looked closer at the magicked iron bars holding the monster in. He knew the spell, having once taken a short course on such magic. The cage kept the monster in, but the moment something else touched the bars, or went through, it would be freed. A clever trick, but not if the occupant was struck from somewhere unexpected. Especially if struck by a heavy creature with powerful claws and an iron bite.
The whole eerie silence of the courtyard was shattered as a long mournful baying raced through every crevice and corner. The creature screamed, confused, and tried to find the sound, only more so confused by the cry echoing off of the empty night. It was then that Lupin struck, leaping from the dark branches that had concealed him and easily slipping between the bars, latching onto the back of the creature's putrid smelling neck where it met its armored back. He bit down, claws ripping and tearing, anchoring him to its massive back, breaking through a split in the exoskeleton. His lower legs pumped at the creatures shell, disabling whole sheets of the hard stuff. He could feel the back of the furry head toss and turn, trying to snap at him with gaping jaws and chipped, rotting teeth.
This thing is nothing, he realized. Actually, he felt a fair amount of sympathy for it. What a life to lead. He wasn't even sure if it had eaten in the past..... year. Lupin thought to end it quickly and do the both of them a favor.
Clamping onto the top of its head, he reached round, still clawing with his back legs, and jabbed his paws into its eyes. The poor monster staggered, moaning louder and louder in increasing pain. Lupin tore at its thin flesh, ripping its lids and its brow to shreds. It had slumped to the ground by the time he finally aimed the killing bite at the pulsing throat, ending the sorrowful life and warily backing away as its body convulsed in the last death throes of the nerve system. He watched it somberly for a few more minutes before quietly disappearing back the way he came.
He knew he needn't worry of the courtyard beyond. Lucius wouldn't dare spell the area visitors Apparated in, such as the Ministry Aurors and his own fellow Death Eaters.
The wolf began trotting faster and faster over the now familiar terrain, skirting any spells he sensed and pausing at the secret door, committing it to a hazy memory before starting off again. Above his lithe form, the moon blazed against the backdrop of black, surrounded by the powder sheen of stars.
~*~
Draco sat calmly in the chair, the only sign of his agitation the grip he had on the wooden arms. Across from him his Father lounged gracefully in a high backed throne like seat, his pewter grays studying his son from under half lowered lids. Draco struggled not to squirm, even *move*. He wouldn't do anything now that more Death Eaters had streamed into the room. They had Harry bound and gagged, standing grimly beside a tied Ron, Lucius taking a small pleasure in reminding his prisoners that the boy need not have a gag to stop any sound from issuing between his silent lips. Hermione and Ginny were in rickety chairs Lucius had conjured up, weak and barely breathing from the curse he had hit them both with simultaneously. Ginny's lids fluttered softly and she whispered the name, "Ron..."
Harry's glasses had been thrown from his face when Lucius had delivered a stinging blow to the side of his head, sending the boy faltering to his knees, where, even at the man's feet, he glared back almost haughtily, a cool green fire in his eyes that wavered only slightly in his now unfocussed world. Draco took a small moment to beg the boy to stop being the hero, just stop for the time with Lucius. He may be able to put on a show for Voldemort and play the wizard along off his blind sided ego - but not with Lucius, he was just too conniving a man to fool easily.
Now Draco was trying not to blink. Something about Lucius made him go still. He heard his heart pounding in his ears, ready to burst. He would scream, scream if no one spoke.....
"Relax, my son. You are agitating our guests." Lucius swept his hand in a wide arc to indicate the others gathered in the room. Harry narrowed his burning eyes and clenched his fists. The scar on his forehead stood out, angry and red. Draco winced even thinking of the pain the boy was enduring now, by the look of his face and the sweat beading over his brow. Ron was peering at Draco pleadingly, sorrowfully. He thinks this is his fault, thought Draco sadly, But it isn't, why won't he understand? There is no way he could've avoided it.
"I am sorry..... *Father*," spat Draco, angered by his friends' suffering. He rested his hands in his lap and bowed his head angelically, hiding his face behind a shield of damp hair, staring at the spotless floor which his feet barely brushed in the tall chair. Lucius smirked and rose from the long table that usually served as his meeting and conference table. Draco looked up when his father rounded the corner and tensed.
Harry swore violently behind his gag, fighting the two Death Eaters that held him. The pale hand had came out of nowhere and caught Draco on the side of his right eye, a long manicured nail slicing the sensitive skin of his upper lid. He fell from the chair and landed in a crumpled heap, staying still until Lucius gripped the collar of his shirt and yanked him up, so that their eyes were level, Draco's feet dangling in the air. He met his father's cool gaze measuredly. Ron stared in disbelief at how alike it was to see. The same control on either face, the same hardness carefully hidden by a cool facade of pleasantries.
The tension hung in the air like a thick mist and the castle itself seemed to let out a soft sigh when Lucius set his son back on his feet and gracefuly glided to his side of the table once more, holding up his hand and in it appearing a tall crystal glass of deep red wine.
"You have the floor, Dragon," he drawled, bored. Draco stared at him blankly. What? Lucius rolled his eyes at his son's quizzical look and said in a clipped tone, "I suggest you offer me some kind of bargain or these nasty mudblood brats will die." The last word was hissed harshly and Draco saw Ginny shudder out of the corner of his eye. He set his jaw firmly and looked his father squarely in the face.
"You need not even ask, Father. Let them go and you can have me of my own free will."
A cold bark of laughter. "Are you worth so much?"
Draco piqued an eyebrow cockily, "Aren't I though, Father? You let them them go, you may have me. Harm them, and I am gone. No more heir, no more regal bloodline. Take your revenge on me, your blasphemous son."
Lucius smiled openly, "That is my boy, my *Dragon*. The Weasels and the......." he sneered, "*mudblood* shall be spared. The Potter boy's verdict is inevitable." Draco shut his eyes tightly. Harry looked almost bored. Ron twisted in his binds, breath hitching as he tried to speak. But it was Hermione who spoke.
"You coward! He-Who - Voldemort is nothing but a madman! You give innocent life all for power, only to die in a few short years." Her eyes burned with passion and her chest heaved. Next to her, Ginny seemed to be trying to hide from Lucius' penetrating glare. He casually waved his wand and Hermione snapped back to the chair, ropes binding her arms and legs to the seat. She growled and snapped, wagging her head from side to side. The chair rocked and they all watched, Lucius amused, as the chair slowly tipped over, crashing to the floor.
"Take them away," Lucius sighed, "Put them all in separate cells. Keep that *creature* bound and do not harm the Potter boy."
As Ron's guard moved, he ripped free and fell forward. Draco swept from his seat and caught his tensed form, holding him close. Their lips met fleetingly before Ron was yanked from his grasp.
Draco watched desperately as his friends were dragged forcibly from the room. He started slightly when a hand brushed his shoulder. How had Lucius got so close all of a sudden? But he ignored the touch, making a small sound in the back of his throat when the last flash of Ron's hair disappeared out the door.
~*~
"What in bloody Hell is *that*?" said Sirius loudly, holding his nose. The werewolf ignored his companion's comment and stepped lightly over the prone figure of the dead monster. He paused momentarily and looked mournfully back at its glassy eyes, now unseeing. Snape swept passed Sirius and walked over the corpse as if it were nothing but a rise in the earth. Charlie kneeled down and rested his hand against the thing's face. Bill wrinkled his nose and looked at the female Auror. Iris shrugged and followed the Potions master. She had seen worse.
"We may just walk in," Snape told them upon mounting the tall stairs leading to a giant front entrance way. Lupin took the steps five by five, resting on his haunches at the top while the others caught up. Snape raised his hand to the door.
"Wait," said Sirius hurriedly, digging in his pockets. Snape pursed his lips, but let the man carry on until the Auror pulled out a tiny slab of red crystal. Iris' eyes brightened and she did likewise, pulling an exact replica.
"Are you sure, Sirius," she whispered. At Sirius' solemn nod, she took a deep breath and nodded at Snape. "Go ahead, Severus. Open the door. If worst comes to worst and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named shows up, we'll at least have backup if we can manage to survive for an hour or so."
"Lovely," said Severus sarcastically and rapped twice on the door and paused, rapping twice more and standing back. A house elf peeked around the door frame and started to say in a tiny voice, "The Master is not in right now. You maybe come back to see Master later..." Then she caught sight of Snape and lowered her eyes. "Missy is sorry, sir. Master will come down and see you-"
"No, Missy. Do not bother. Lucius is excepting me - I shall notify him of my presence myself."
The little house elf nodded, obviously quite familiar with the man. She scurried off after shutting the door behind the group, looking curiously over the others. But one look from Snape stopped that and she was gone.
"What now?" whispered Bill, looking around in awe at the grand gothic atmosphere the house existed in. Snape's lip curled at the question and he started off down an opposite hall, his long cloak billowing out behind his gaunt figure. Iris followed immediately behind them, and Bill after her, followed by Charlie pulling along Sirius, who was loudly protesting a suspicious bottle of brandy in an ancient case by the door.
They rounded a corner, Snape still in the lead. Bill and Charlie, never being in such lavish surroundings, stumbled along, holding onto each other for support and balance. Iris viewed everything around her with a expert eye, and Lupin stuck to Snape's side while Sirius grumbled about a perfectly good bottle of brandy going to waste.
He looked up, brandy forgotten, when Lupin's ruff along his back prickled and a low growl issued from the black lips. They all raised their wands and backed into a tight circle. Iris ran her thumb over the stone that would save their life if it came to it. She noticed Sirius do the same.
"Severus, how it pleases me to see you again." A petite figure detached from the shadows and Lupin yelped, scrambling back into Sirius' legs. Bill and Charlie's eyes bugged and they faltered, almost dropping their wands. Iris' eyes gleamed with an odd look and Snape lowered his wand and said calmly as if stating the weather, "Likewise I'm sure, my lord."
Sirius flinched and almost cried out when an ice cold hand touched his own, long fingers tracing over his knuckles to brushed the stone lying in his palm. Snape kept talking to the Dark Lord, but his fingers were pressing Sirius'. The man did not need to be asked twice. He perched the stone across his pointer finger and pressed the thin edge with his thumb. Snape added to the pressure and the Auror felt a soft sigh escape his lips as he felt the tiny shard snap in two.
"Severus, my old friend. I would tell your companions to put away their wands. It shall be no use." He stepped further from the shadows and Charlie felt his stomach do somersaults. Bill's must've been doing the same for he felt his older brother's hand grip his. They both paled and their knees started to shake when more forms detached themselves from the shadows. Many many shapes in long black cloaks.
Voldemort smiled.
"Welcome home, Severus. And so nice to bring along a homecoming gift for me...."
A/N: Sorry this is so short. It's actually a continuation of chapter sixteen, but my computer said that it was too long so I had to chop it up into two parts. Mrrrrrrmph. Anyhoosiolies, you have my most esteemed admiration if you have made it so far and are present for one last chappie. Yup, Ron's Worst Nightmare is gonna be done next chapter. *grin* I swear, I'm going to be crying. *sob* So if you read chappie eighteen, be patient if I include a sappy speech. ^_^ Au revior!
~*Villain*~