All disclaimers are in place. Refer to the Prologue section for details.
**WARNING** The story takes a very nasty turn, meaning that this chapter contains exceedingly gruesome details. If you cannot stomach it, there will be a summary at the beginning of the next chapter (sans gore) so you won't miss anything important. Knowing my lack of power for persuasion, you'll probably read this chapter anyway, but I figured I should put this here in case there actually are a few involved parents left out there who care about what their kids are reading.
From the previous chapter: …And as she moved stealthily through the trees toward her destination, Halo made a vow of her own… to leave this world by making her father proud of her. And then she downed the contents of the forbidden vial.
PART SEVENTEEN: GENOCIDEThe camp was only a hundred meters away. She could see it clearly from the edge of the forest; a cluster of shadowy figures surrounding a blue-flamed bonfire. Her lungs had begun to stretch themselves, expanding and thickening as the potion had intended. A sharp pain issued from her throat and just as quickly subsided. Her breathing slowed dramatically, but left her just as alert and aware. The figures circling the roaring fire… there were at least fifty of them… were oblivious to her intentions. And it was just as she'd planned.
She stepped out of the wood.
It was then that the Death Eaters sensed her presence. They turned to see her moving quickly toward them, and as they went to draw their wands…
It's now or never… her eyes went crimson as they had just a day before and she let out a resounding scream just as they leapt to arms. Visible waves of sound undulated from her body, rippling and surging into a luminescent halo around her.
The sound was deafening, reverberating like a machine gun. The Death Eaters shrieked in agony, and blood poured from their apertures, but their anguished cries could not be heard over the sound produced by their assailant. Forced into a frozen state by the shimmering waves, they were unable to draw their wands or move in to stop her, for they were only conscious of the pain resonating through their tenuous, corrupt bodies.
And just as she was beginning to run out of breath…
…one by one, every single Death Eater spontaneously combusted.
Torn body parts flew in every direction, the only forces preventing the blood, flesh, fluids and entrails from hitting her were the last of the repelling echoes of sound, which ceased shortly after the last chunk of viscera hit the ground. Carnage on that scale hadn't been witnessed in centuries. The ground beneath her feet became quickly soaked with body fluids, turning it to a swamp of butchery. And then she realized what she was.
She was a killer.
No…
A hunter, she decided. Killers have no honorable purpose. She wanted to rid the world of filthy, contemptible scum, and she had just done so.
With what strength she had left, she stumbled back the way she had came, her feet schlooping in the newly created mud, back to the solid ground of the forest floor, where the bloodbath had not yet touched the soil. It was there that she collapsed.
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He wanted to call out her name, knowing that it would, in part, make it easier to locate her, but also knowing she probably would not come when called. She sometimes reminded him of a cat… a stray cat, one that would get trustingly close one moment, then hiss and run the next. He simply could not figure her out, and he knew her flighty behavior was probably all his fault. Nevertheless, he trudged on, deciding it was probably best to make no noise, as he risked be located more quickly by those he would rather not run into on this trip.
He knew where the camp was, in the center of a No-Apparation Zone, but he had no idea which direction she'd come from in her approach to that location, so he'd have to reach the camp before continuing his search. A strange, organic rotting smell breezed his way upon his approach to the destination; his sensitive nose wrinkling at the displeasure of it. He stopped, stunned… as he could not believe his eyes when he arrived at the edge of the clearing.
Not even bodies. Parts… some still quite identifiable… were lying everywhere. The ground had congealed with drying body fluids. The early morning beginnings of warmth cultivated the stench until it was unbearable. He looked down in an attempt to control the urge to vomit and saw, at his feet, a partial, mangled, blood-caked skull crawling with forest vermin. Snape had to forego breathing as he would have preferred in order to keep from passing out. Moving carefully to avoid stepping on the pieces he made his way around the forest edge, his usual detachment wearing off and attempting vainly not to panic.
Where could she be? Is she among the… oh no… she can't be… his blood ran cold. She must be all right… it can't end this way… I have to tell her… tell her what? That I… no, I couldn't possibly… it's absurd, all I'm capable of feeling is pity for the poor girl… the poor girl who must have done this… how could she have survived?
He racked his brains, retching when he saw what could have once been a former Death Eater colleague's brains in the soup of carnage at his feet, wondering what state he'd find Halo in, assuming she was still among the solid… as any major breakthrough she'd made had cost her quite a lot of strength. It's possible she's dead… and I will never have had the chance to…
"Stop it! Just stop!" he told himself out loud. And then he saw her.
Lying in a pile of leaves at the base of a tree skin pale as ever, hair tangled and lips quite blue, she looked like death personified. He ran to her. Her cheeks felt like ice, and upon inspection of the pulse point under her chin, her heart rhythm was fading, but present. Snape felt an adrenaline surge take over his brain, just as it does when one picks up a hot potato, and lifted the frail girl into his arms, racing away from the clearing at a breakneck pace. It must have been ten minutes before he reached the border of the "Zone," at which point he held Halo as close to his body as he could and thought of home… of Hogwarts…
… and appeared at the gates. He dashed past the Dementors, who had apparently decided from the last two encounters that this wizard was not to be messed with, as they remained at their posts, watching him warily. He had her in the Hospital Wing as quickly as he had it in him to get her there. He dropped her onto a bed and sunk to the floor at her side, gasping for breath when Poppy Pomfrey rushed in and, without question, began tending to her.
And as if he had a premonition that his Potions Master with daughter in tow would be there, Albus Dumbledore banged his way through the heavy wooden doors with a distressed Oliver Wood close at his heels.
"You've found her, thank goodness."
Severus gestured with his hands, trying to follow them up with his voice, but was too out of breath to speak and just shook a finger in Oliver's direction. Oliver got the hint and just as quickly defied it.
"Oh no, I'm staying," he said, going to Halo's other side. "She needs me."
How could you possibly know what she needs? Snape wanted to say, shooting a dangerous glare at Oliver, then turning his head to the Headmaster. "Must… speak with… something… terrible…" he choked out between ragged breaths. The older wizard helped to pull him to his feet and indicated toward the medwitch's office, offering a "she'll be fine, I'm sure" when Snape looked back to where his daughter lay unconscious.
Dumbledore handed him a conjured glass of water once he'd gotten his breathing under control, which he gulped down in record time. "I was too late," he gasped. "She killed them… all of them…" he explained everything.
The old wizard nodded when he'd completed his recount of the event. "Are you sure everyone was… dead?"
"Absolutely."
"Then perhaps it is safe to assume that no one saw the event who can inform the remaining league of Death Eaters, though any assumption on our part could lead to the destruction of our forces, as those who oppose us have demonstrated in the past. We ought to brace ourselves; it is only a matter of time before word of this gets out into the dark community." The old man stood. "We will discuss these events without mention of Halo at our staff meeting tonight… and I also believe another search of the school for Mr. Black is in order. But for now, I think it's time you saw to your daughter." He turned to leave.
"Don't you see, Albus…" Snape's voice was very low, haunting, "She's becoming… me."
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Halo was just rousing when he returned to her side a few moments later. That boy was still there, speaking sweetly to her, brushing her hair out of her face. He wondered vaguely if they'd… No, she's just as soon let anyone touch her, he dismissed the notion all together. He looked daggers at the young man, who shot them right back. He apparently wasn't the only one who was trying to protect her. He hoped it wouldn't become a battle of wills, for fear he may be forced to hurt the boy.
Oliver Wood was livid. With Professor Snape, of course, and anyone else who had anything remotely to do with Halo's current state of health. He was angered, upset, worried… to the point that his hands shook and tears threatened to squeeze from his eyes. But he had to be strong for Halo, this much he knew.
"I don't know if you'll be as attached to her once you've found out what she's done to get herself in this mess, and I'd be quite surprised if she gives you another chance after you walk out on her this time," Snape spoke harshly to the young man.
"She knows I won't leave her."
Snape snorted. "We'll see."
What are they talking about… Halo could here muffled voices and see the distorted figures of her father and best friend hovering over her, wondering if it was just a dream, wondering if she wasn't still on the ground in the woods. The slight antiseptic smell of the ward told her the truth. It was rather comforting, actually… whether or not the two men above her were quarrelling… at least they were both there with her. She felt she must cherish it as long as possible, for at least one of them would desert her when they found out what she'd done. And with that thought in mind, she dozed off again.
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Snape received an owl from Malfoy Senior that evening.
Severus,
Something has happened. I desire a meeting with you as soon as possible.
~Lucius
A complete list of the foulest of expletives rained from his lips as he incinerated the letter in his fireplace, then stepped into the flames with a pinch of Floo powder.
Lucius Malfoy was usually an angry man, but when he was enraged to the point of fear, it was truly something to be concerned about. Snape was sure to mask his acquaintance with the situation, which was rather difficult, considering he was legendary in the dark community for his knowledge of what was not meant to be widely known.
"Do you have any idea what happened this morning, to seventy-three of our ranks this morning? Do you?" Lucius spouted immediately upon Snape's arrival in his enormous stone hearth.
"I believe that was your reason for summoning me at a most inconvenient time," he replied, his voice remaining unemotional.
"You don't know, then? You, who knows everything that goes on in our world, and I assume many things even I don't know?"
"That's right, Lucius, are you going to tell me or should I go back to that infernal school and do what I am supposed to do: spy for our side?"
"Seventy-three of our fellow Death Eaters were murdered this morning!"
Snape mocked upset. "What? How?"
"I haven't the slightest idea! There were pieces of them everywhere… it was truly sickening, even for me." he moved in on Snape. "I have the distinct feeling that you do know, however…"
Careful, Severus. Match his anger, his frustration, it's the best way to hide what you know… "Did it ever occur to you that jumping to conclusions will drive what remains of our people apart? You're paranoid man, pull yourself together! I would think that you of all people would know better than to accuse me of something, it rather means that you must have had something to do with it, to be so quick to blame someone else."
Lucius stared him down for a moment, then his lips curled into a thoughtful sneer. "You're correct my friend… I had to ensure that I could still trust you."
"If that was the reason you asked me here, then I'll be leaving," he turned back to the fireplace.
"Severus…"
Snape turned around.
"Watch your back, my friend. I trust you'll keep me apprised of any new developments."
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The next time Halo awoke, there was a slight weight on her chest and something soft was patting at her chin. She fought a temporary sleep-induced paralysis to open her eyes.
"Mrrrp!" a pair of blue eyes stared down at her.
"Hello Tap," she breathed, stretching.
"You're awake," a voice stirred into her mind.
Snape put down the book he was reading and gave her his full attention.
"Where's Oliver?"
He shifted in his chair. "It is after midnight. Contrary to popular belief, the student curfew is not optional."
Halo sniffed, not from impending tears but out of habit. She was feeling numb as the remembrance of her deed slowly filtered into her brain. She knew that if she felt what she thought she should feel, she'd lose consciousness again. "You saw what I did, didn't you…"
"Yes," he whispered.
"And I'm sure you know why."
"On the contrary, I absolutely do not. Please enlighten me."
Halo was silent.
"My dear girl, it's far too late into the night for me to be angry with you, so you can rest assured that your tale will be met with the least amount of resentment. Now please, tell me what drove you to…this."
"Draco…"
"Yes I know all about young Mr. Malfoy," he interrupted. "He informed you of the meeting, gave you the time and location. He's already told us, and is being adequately disciplined for not bringing this to our attention first."
Halo's eyes would have welled up with tears, had she not been experiencing such a bout of emotional detachment. "I did it for you."
Snape blinked. "You… what? Why?"
It was several seconds before she began again. "I've only ever wanted you to at least like me. Ever since I found out what you were, I wanted to get rid of everyone who did that to you. All of them. And I don't know why, since all you've ever done for me was make me feel unworthy of being held dear. Well now I don't care anymore. I'm well aware that you intend to let me die before Summer is through. And for that reason, I will not let you stop me from finishing what I've begun. If anything at all, it will relieve the world of people like you."
Severus Snape was dazed into a deafeningly silent shock. He felt as though he'd been backhanded by the Gods and had to gather the pieces of his broken soul from the farthest reaches of the universe. For the first time since Halo came into his life, he desperately wanted her to understand him. She'd been trying all this time to please him, he realized too late, and pain welled up in his stomach, very nearly bringing on a half-gag, half-sob reflex. It was the mere handful of times like these when he was touched most deeply that he wished he'd never shrouded and deeply buried his ability to feel.
And now he'd lost her completely. She'd given him second, third, fourth chances and he'd thrown all of them back in her face with a wave of his long, skeletal fingers and a sour sneer in his voice. And nothing he could say now would convince her otherwise… not that he could think of anything to say. He lowered his face into his hands and struggled to control his breathing.
Halo watched him. He's feeling this… good. It's about time he felt something. Perhaps when I'm gone he'll turn into something resembling a human, which he's so recently accused me of not being. She absently petted her cat and watched him further, his shoulders shaking for a moment, then his back spasmed as he fought to control himself.
She has no regard for human life, he thought. She's so angry… she doesn't understand that evil is not infinite, it can be turned to rights. How could she… all those people… Death Eaters… but still people…"
"It's twisted, Halo… so twisted… you're becoming more like me, and I cannot prevent it." He still wasn't able to look at her, his black hair shading his tearstained face from view. "If anyone found out you did this… it means Azkaban."
A chunk of ice dropped into the pit of her stomach, jarring her numb state. "What… but they were Death Eaters!"
"In the shadows… in their own private lives, yes they were. But in open society, some of them held high positions in the Ministry, many highly respected throughout the wizarding community whether they had malicious intent or not. The Headmaster and I can overlook the… infraction… to ensure that you don't end up in that place, but those bribe- and threat-driven politicians in the Ministry would see otherwise. I will not allow you to irritate the situation further."
A moment of cold silence passed between them.
"What's left for me now?" she squeaked, clearly fearful again.
Snape sighed, his composure regained, his face now dry and closed. "A dreamless sleep… and Obliviate, to protect you."
"I don't want them."
Snape sighed again, closing his eyes, willing himself to be the stronger force in this case. "Please don't make this difficult, Halo. I need to be a good father for once. I have decided what I think is best for you, and this is how it shall be."
"Obliviate Draco if you want to protect me."
"It has already been done, But it isn't enough. Now lie down."
Halo did as she was told, taking the flask he held out for her. She paused before drinking from it. "Aren't you afraid I might do the same thing without the knowledge that I've already done it?"
Quite a logical thought, one he had pondered at great length. "A bit… but admit to yourself that you'd be better off not knowing that you've done what you now know you've done, and instead knowing that you haven't yet been driven to that extent."
Halo considered that as she brought the flask to her lips, downing the contents in one swallow, already too exhausted to argue. Damn him, but he's probably right… for once…
…and perhaps now I will have the opportunity to talk her out of her plan, he finished her thought, infinitely relieved that she hadn't fought him on it, but concerned at the same time that she hadn't. He was losing her fast.