IV.
Long before the sun peeked through the rain-soaked clouds, Severus was already flying towards Hogwarts. Cecil, despite the early hour, was wide awake and babbling with delight on his lap. He was half-afraid she would become too excited and try to climb from his lap, so he kept a firm hold on her with one arm.
It was obvious that she had never flown before, from her sparkling blue eyes and bright smile. Her pure delight was able to turn even Severus' scowl into a small smile.
But as the towers of the wizarding school came ever closer into view, bringing with them the unavoidable task that Severus had hoped never to do. He would have to face Dumbledore and offer what he could in exchange for sanctuary. And in doing that, he would betray everything he had stood for throughout the past six years.
That would, in itself, bring the whole of Voldemort's wrath crashing down upon his shoulders. But hopefully, at Hogwarts... at Hogwarts he would be safe. No, he corrected himself as Cecil pointed out some attraction below them- *they* would be safe.
So he continued on, slightly more confident in their security.
But ahead of them, an enemy lay in wait.
Lucius paced the boundaries of Hogwarts, his wand gripped firmly in hand. Severus would come, he was certain of it. He had known the slimy git far too long to doubt it. Snape would come running back to dear old Dumbledore with that snot-nosed kid he had snatched, pathetic and groveling, ready to swear his allegiance to the 'good side.'
He could almost hear what he'd say. Snape would tell him that he had been tricked into joining the Death Eaters, that he hadn't wanted to, that he had been weak and foolish. He would say that he couldn't take it anymore, couldn't take the murders and blood and immorality. He would lie through his teeth.
Dumbledore would be most pleased, of course. The lost sheep, his prodigal son, would have returned back to the fold. What a reunion.
What that Gryffindor-loving fool of a Headmaster didn't realize was that Severus was nothing but a turncoat and always would be. He was only in as long as it was good for him, then he would turn tail and run. In the words of that ridiculous Muggle expression, the grass was always greener on the other side.
Lucius vaguely wondered how long Severus might last on as a 'good guy.' He wondered how long it would be until his lips itched to say the Unforgivables, how long until he lusted for the sight of blood, how long until he came crawling back to Voldemort, begging for forgiveness.
Too bad the fool would be dead by this time tomorrow. True, he would miss Severus' pathetic ways. But then again, it would be a pleasure to see Snape die.
* * *
He landed about a mile from the entrance to the school, not wanting to draw any attention to himself whatsoever. He planned on slipping inside and finding Dumbledore and... well, hoping for the best. If he could not save himself, at least the child would be safe.
But Merlin, he didn't want to go to Azkaban. He would kill himself before he let them drag him there. He clutched the child closer involuntarily at the thought.
"Daddy," she whimpered, making him balk at the name, "you're hurting."
He forced himself to relax. "I'm sorry," he said softly, almost inaudibly. With quick, long strides, he began to make his way towards the school. "We're almost there," he murmured, half to himself.
"Where?"
He had forgotten how inquisitive children could be and didn't answer right away. She would not understand where they were going on why they must go there. There were few things that he *could* tell her. "Home. We're almost... home." His voice caught in his throat at the words. Home. Hogwarts was certainly not home to him... never had been and probably never would be.
The answer satisfied Cecil at least, even if it could not soothe his own soul.
There was a sudden rustle of sound to his right and he turned, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes narrowed when he saw a blonde-haired former Slytherin standing in the shadows.
He drew his cloak more tightly and protectively around Cecil. "Lucius."
"Severus." He stepped forward with a twisted grin. "You've made a big mistake, my friend."
"And I suppose you have come to correct me."
He laughed. "That is where you are wrong. I have come to punish you." He twirled his wand through his fingers. "You swore loyalty to the Dark Lord. Even now in your treachery, you still bear the Mark. You knew the consequences of turning your back on him. You cannot escape from Voldemort, Severus."
"It has been done before."
"Au contraire, my dear Severus, none have escaped with their lives. The only escape for traitors like yourself is through death. All others will be miserable all their days." He took a step forward. "Surely you do not want to live in misery. Let me help you escape, old friend."
Snape held out his wand at arm's length. "I do not recommend that you attempt to challenge me, Lucius. I have always been better than you at dueling."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I think I'll risk it."
"Suit yourself. I have no problem with killing you."
"The feeling is quite mutual." He stepped out into the clearing. "Up to the challenge, Severus?"
"Absolutely." He carefully set the child down, casting a protective shield around her, then turned back to Lucius. "Are we playing according to rules, or like Death Eaters?"
"Well, I am a Death Eater, am I not?" They began to circle each other, muscles tensed, lips waiting to form the first spell, minds trying to devise what the other would do.
The first curse flew from their lips, almost simultaneously. With the sparks that surged light lightening towards each other, the battle had begun.
END CHAPTER FOUR
Author's Note: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that //'s imply memories, flashbacks, or dreams. Just in case you were wondering.
Thanks to all my reviewers, especially 'my son' Jake. You just remember to listen to your nanny! Thanks also to Azaelian for your awesome reviews and comments. Sorry this wasn't updated as soon as I might have hoped. I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner!
Long before the sun peeked through the rain-soaked clouds, Severus was already flying towards Hogwarts. Cecil, despite the early hour, was wide awake and babbling with delight on his lap. He was half-afraid she would become too excited and try to climb from his lap, so he kept a firm hold on her with one arm.
It was obvious that she had never flown before, from her sparkling blue eyes and bright smile. Her pure delight was able to turn even Severus' scowl into a small smile.
But as the towers of the wizarding school came ever closer into view, bringing with them the unavoidable task that Severus had hoped never to do. He would have to face Dumbledore and offer what he could in exchange for sanctuary. And in doing that, he would betray everything he had stood for throughout the past six years.
That would, in itself, bring the whole of Voldemort's wrath crashing down upon his shoulders. But hopefully, at Hogwarts... at Hogwarts he would be safe. No, he corrected himself as Cecil pointed out some attraction below them- *they* would be safe.
So he continued on, slightly more confident in their security.
But ahead of them, an enemy lay in wait.
Lucius paced the boundaries of Hogwarts, his wand gripped firmly in hand. Severus would come, he was certain of it. He had known the slimy git far too long to doubt it. Snape would come running back to dear old Dumbledore with that snot-nosed kid he had snatched, pathetic and groveling, ready to swear his allegiance to the 'good side.'
He could almost hear what he'd say. Snape would tell him that he had been tricked into joining the Death Eaters, that he hadn't wanted to, that he had been weak and foolish. He would say that he couldn't take it anymore, couldn't take the murders and blood and immorality. He would lie through his teeth.
Dumbledore would be most pleased, of course. The lost sheep, his prodigal son, would have returned back to the fold. What a reunion.
What that Gryffindor-loving fool of a Headmaster didn't realize was that Severus was nothing but a turncoat and always would be. He was only in as long as it was good for him, then he would turn tail and run. In the words of that ridiculous Muggle expression, the grass was always greener on the other side.
Lucius vaguely wondered how long Severus might last on as a 'good guy.' He wondered how long it would be until his lips itched to say the Unforgivables, how long until he lusted for the sight of blood, how long until he came crawling back to Voldemort, begging for forgiveness.
Too bad the fool would be dead by this time tomorrow. True, he would miss Severus' pathetic ways. But then again, it would be a pleasure to see Snape die.
* * *
He landed about a mile from the entrance to the school, not wanting to draw any attention to himself whatsoever. He planned on slipping inside and finding Dumbledore and... well, hoping for the best. If he could not save himself, at least the child would be safe.
But Merlin, he didn't want to go to Azkaban. He would kill himself before he let them drag him there. He clutched the child closer involuntarily at the thought.
"Daddy," she whimpered, making him balk at the name, "you're hurting."
He forced himself to relax. "I'm sorry," he said softly, almost inaudibly. With quick, long strides, he began to make his way towards the school. "We're almost there," he murmured, half to himself.
"Where?"
He had forgotten how inquisitive children could be and didn't answer right away. She would not understand where they were going on why they must go there. There were few things that he *could* tell her. "Home. We're almost... home." His voice caught in his throat at the words. Home. Hogwarts was certainly not home to him... never had been and probably never would be.
The answer satisfied Cecil at least, even if it could not soothe his own soul.
There was a sudden rustle of sound to his right and he turned, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. His eyes narrowed when he saw a blonde-haired former Slytherin standing in the shadows.
He drew his cloak more tightly and protectively around Cecil. "Lucius."
"Severus." He stepped forward with a twisted grin. "You've made a big mistake, my friend."
"And I suppose you have come to correct me."
He laughed. "That is where you are wrong. I have come to punish you." He twirled his wand through his fingers. "You swore loyalty to the Dark Lord. Even now in your treachery, you still bear the Mark. You knew the consequences of turning your back on him. You cannot escape from Voldemort, Severus."
"It has been done before."
"Au contraire, my dear Severus, none have escaped with their lives. The only escape for traitors like yourself is through death. All others will be miserable all their days." He took a step forward. "Surely you do not want to live in misery. Let me help you escape, old friend."
Snape held out his wand at arm's length. "I do not recommend that you attempt to challenge me, Lucius. I have always been better than you at dueling."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "I think I'll risk it."
"Suit yourself. I have no problem with killing you."
"The feeling is quite mutual." He stepped out into the clearing. "Up to the challenge, Severus?"
"Absolutely." He carefully set the child down, casting a protective shield around her, then turned back to Lucius. "Are we playing according to rules, or like Death Eaters?"
"Well, I am a Death Eater, am I not?" They began to circle each other, muscles tensed, lips waiting to form the first spell, minds trying to devise what the other would do.
The first curse flew from their lips, almost simultaneously. With the sparks that surged light lightening towards each other, the battle had begun.
END CHAPTER FOUR
Author's Note: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that //'s imply memories, flashbacks, or dreams. Just in case you were wondering.
Thanks to all my reviewers, especially 'my son' Jake. You just remember to listen to your nanny! Thanks also to Azaelian for your awesome reviews and comments. Sorry this wasn't updated as soon as I might have hoped. I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner!