Chapter 3
Hermione screamed as Voldemort rolled to the side and swung one booted foot into her stomach.

"Professor Snape!" Ron Weasley shouted, "Help!"

The red-head pushed himself upright against the wall and then dived, landing chest-first on the Dark Wizard's head and neck.

Clutching her abdomen as tightly as she could with bound hands, Hermione glanced around the room; where was he, why wasn't he attacking Voldemort, where, where -

There.

Everything seemed to strobe, frozen camera pictures spaced with inky black.

Click.

She shook her head, unable to understand what she was seeing.

Click.

Ron drove his knees again and again into Voldemort's face.

Click

Severus lay full length on the floor beside Harry, a knife open in his right hand.

Click

So still - Harry was laying so still -

Click

"No!" Hermione screamed.

Click

Voldemort thrashed on the floor, trying desperately to unlock Ron's legs from around his neck so that he could reach his dropped wand.

Click

"Kill him Severus!" Voldemort snarled.

Click

Severus slashing with the blade.

Click

"NO, oh please Professor Snape no!" Hermione screamed.

Click

Ron Weasley gasped and then lay moaning as Voldemort finally gained the leverage to seize the boy and throw him into the wall.

Click

Her heart gave a jarring thump and then her jaw dropped in disbelief. The darkened places vanished and life ran forward in a rush.

Harry Potter stood; his bonds cut through.

"His wand Harry, get the wand," Severus shouted. "It's the twin to yours- you can use it!"

Harry dashed across the floor, jumping to avoid Voldemort's sprawling lunge. Before the Dark Lord could rise completely Snape struck him from the side and both men went down, rolling in a tangle of arms and legs.

The knife flashed and Voldemort screamed, a high and terrible sound.

"Severus, his teeth, look out!" Dumbledore shouted.

Severus whipped his head to the side but not quickly enough. Voldemort's fangs found his throat and sank deep.

Hermione jerked as a warm splash of blood spattered her face and torso. She tried frantically to free her hands, then paused.

The room felt different.

Heavier.

She heard Dumbledore say softly, "Harry."

Harry Potter stood a few meters from the rolling men, Voldemort's wand held lightly in his hand. He looked frightened and very young.

"Tom Riddle," Harry said softly. "Look at me Tom."

Voldemort ripped his teeth from Snape's tattered neck and bared his fangs in a feral grin. Severus Snape moaned, then lay very still.

"Give me my wand Potter," Voldemort snarled, "It is no toy for a child. Give me my wand and your death will be quick."

"You're the one who has to die Tom, it has to end somewhere," Harry whispered. "Would you stand up?"

"Harry, no," Dumbledore said, "Do not prolong it."

"Would you stand?" Harry said again. "I've never killed anyone before."

A look of confusion, almost fear, crossed Voldemort's pale face.

"Give me the wand," he demanded. Slowly, too slowly, he pushed Severus Snape's bleeding body aside and began to stand.

"Crucio," Harry said quietly.

"NO!" Voldemort shrieked. His feet went out from under him and he fell to the floor.

Walking carefully, Harry stepped to his side. He placed the wand tip on the writhing wizard's forehead.

"Crucio," the boy said again.

"Hermione," Dumbledore called, "Hermione!"

Startled, the girl looked at the old wizard.

"Get the knife quickly Hermione, and cut these ropes my dear." He strained against the ropes that held him.

Hermione scrambled across the floor, darting around Harry and Voldemort.

There, the knife lay beside Professor Snape.

She pushed her own rope ties against the edge, using her feet to steady the blade. In a moment, she was free. Quickly, she snatched the knife from the floor, grimacing at its sheen of sticky red.

"Hurry, Hermione," called Dumbledore.

Hermione ran back across the floor and began to saw desperately at the rope. Another scream filled the room. Startled, she began to turn.

"No! Keep cutting!" Dumbledore shouted.

The ropes fell away at last, just as Harry said "Avada Kedavra."

The scream stopped.

Albus Dumbledore burst from his seat, almost knocking the girl to the floor.

"Is he- ?" Hermione said quietly.

Dumbledore came to a halt beside Harry. The boy stood frozen, wand outstretched before him.

"Harry, give it to me, it's over," said Dumbledore.

"Is he dead, Headmaster?" Harry said. His voice sounded strange.

"Give me the wand my boy."

"Is he dead?"

"Voldemort is dead Harry," Dumbledore said patiently. "Now, if you would please give me - "

"I meant Professor Snape, Headmaster," Harry said. "Is he dead?"

Dumbledore bent to touch the still dark form of Severus Snape.

"Harry, I'm sorry."

Hermione began to cry.

"Don't be sorry Headmaster." Harry smiled tiredly at the old man and Dumbledore stepped backward in surprise. The boy's face was - perfect. The zig zag scar had gone.

The boy knelt beside the potions master.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Dumbledore asked.

"He hasn't gone far yet."

"I know that my boy, but there is no magic that will bring Severus back as he was. Do not attempt this."

Harry ran a gentle hand along Snape's torn neck.

"Uncle Vernon took me to church once last summer," Harry said. "When his sister told him people were starting to talk because I never went. I heard a story there."

Dumbledore looked confused. "Harry, what - ?"

"Professor Dumbledore, did you know that someone did raise the dead once? It was brilliant. He called to them, and they came," Harry said, "Only the man at church said he had to be careful; to call them by name, otherwise the whole graveyard would have stood up. That sounds simple enough to me." He knelt down beside Severus Snape.

Hermione gasped in understanding. "Oh, Harry, no. He wasn't a wizard, that wasn't wizarding magic."

Harry smiled. "Did that matter to Lazarus? He wasn't the only one you know; there was at least one more, a girl."

"Harry," Dumbledore said, understanding at last, "Only one person has ever done things of that nature, and that magic has been gone for over two thousand years."

"Has anyone really tried to make it return?" Harry said.

The boy handed the wand to Dumbledore, who placed it quickly in his sleeve. Gently, Harry placed both hands on Snape's shoulders and rolled the man onto his back.

There was a commotion at the door; six Unspeakables, followed closely by Minerva McGonagall dashed in, then froze at the scene before them.

"What in the name of Merlin - " The Captain said, as Harry leaned to touch his forehead to the fallen teacher's.

Harry sat up, placed his hands firmly on either side of Snape's head and roared, "SEVERUS KOUM!"

A wind howled through the door, filling the room with swirling leaves and bits of castle rubbish. Hermione fought to stay upright as the rush of air focused on Harry; passed through the boy without ruffling his hair. It struck Severus Snape in the chest.

Snape's body jerked.

"SEVERUS KOAM!" Harry called again.

The body began to seize, back arching until it seemed as if it would snap. Arms and legs beat on the stone floor.

Hermione pointed, "Look!"

The wound at the potions master's throat was closing, the flesh re-knitting itself.
Harry bent down and planted a gentle kiss on Snape's thrashing forehead. "Please, Severus koum."

There was a gasp, and Severus Snape began to breath.

Harry looked around and blinked owlishly. "Headmaster, I want to go home," he said. Slowly, he toppled over.