Disclaimer: I own nothing, save this plot. I know it's sad but true.
Anything you recognize belongs to You-Know-Who.
A/N: I want to apologize ahead of time for the horrendous format that this chapter will no doubt turn out to look like once uploaded on to ffnet. I have Windows XP, which I understand is still having "issues." I understand what a pain it is to try and read something when all of the paragraphs are shoved together and the punctuation doesn't appear correct. At any rate, here goes nothin'
~Chapter 20~
Everyone sat and talked excitedly about the nights events during breakfast. Hermione looked up at the head table and noticed that Angeline, Snape, Lyle, and Dumbledore still had not arrived, and Hermione was losing patience. "I'm going to go see if Ms. Angeline is in her room," she said while jumping up from the table.
"Hang on. We'll come with you," Ron said following her out with Harry not far behind.
As they approached Angeline's door, they noticed the door was slightly ajar. "That's strange," Hermione whispered, "she usually keeps her door locked." She knocked on the door three times but no answer came. "Ms. Angeline?" Hermione pronounced, yet still there was no answer.
Harry's scar began to burn again. It had stopped just before he fell asleep, and he had been grateful. This time, at least, it was only a dull pain. "Open the door, Hermione."
As the door was pushed open, all three exchanged looks of confusion. Angeline's normally neat and tidy room looked as if a cyclone had moved through it. Books were lying about across the floor and the pictures were taken off the walls. Hermione ran into the bedroom to discover the same scene. The mattress had been removed from the bed, and all of the drawers in the bureau were overturned with their contents strewn about the room.
Hermione sprinted out the door to go check Angeline's office. Just as she entered the hall, she slammed right into Snape and fell to the floor.
"Miss Granger, get a pair of glasses! Do you EVER watch where you are going?" Snape's tone was harsh. He grabbed Hermione by the arm and jerked her up to her feet. "What are you three~" Snape still had his mouth open to finish the sentence, but the sight inside Angeline's room made him stop. "What is going on here? Are you three responsible for this mess?"
"No, Sir," Hermione whispered. Snape was still gripping her arm, and his grip was tightening by the second. "Please, Sir ~ you're hurting me."
He let go of her arm, unaware that he had been clutching it the entire time. He moved into the room and surveyed the chaos. On the floor near the fireplace, he noticed a shattered tea cup. Around it, on the rugs, was a white stain that definitely not characteristic of tea. Just as he knelt down to examine the area closer, Dumbledore raced into the room, slightly out of breath.
"Oh, no," was his first response to the scene. "Severus~"
Snape was lost in thought as he held a piece of the cup in his hand. Dumbledore repeated Snape's name, and he shook his head to re-focus and dropped the shard of cup. "There was a strong dose of sleeping potion in the tea she was drinking," he concluded while standing to face the headmaster.
"Severus, I just received word from one of our Aurors. The Death Eaters are performing a Binding Ceremony."
Snape's face was filled with anger. "Then Mister Atwood has been playing triple agent. He has sold out his own sister."
Harry watched Snape clench his jaw. "He is a Death Eater," Harry said more to himself than anyone else. "But why did he tear the room apart?"
Snape became aware of the students and a feeling of irritability overcame him. It was quickly replaced by urgency, however, and he headed out the door.
"Severus, it is unwise to go rushing headlong into danger. You know better than anyone that you cannot expect Voldemort to just let you walk in and get her out."
"And I also know that once the ceremony is complete, Voldemort will kill her ~ if she isn't already dead at that point."
Dumbledore took a thoughtful look at Snape. "You may not make it out alive."
Snape nodded. That was a fact that he was almost certain of, but he did not care. He took one last look at Dumbledore and left the room. Harry's face was expressionless as Snape ran outside to disapperate. Snape wondered briefly if this would be his last encounter with the infamous Harry Potter.
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Angeline opened her eyes and attempted to sit up. She quickly found it to be quite an impossible task. She turned her head from side to side and realized for the first time that she was not in her room. "What on earth~" she mumbled, still groggy.
The room was large and cavernous. There was a cold breeze moving through the room and it caused the burning incense on the ground to swirl about the cavern. Angeline had been secured to a large stone platform in the center of the floor amidst the candles and incense.
She began to struggle with the ropes that held her. "If I could just get to my wand~"
"Well, good morning, Professor Atwood. Looking for this?"
Angeline looked up and saw a man standing at the foot of the stone platform. In his hand was Angeline's wand. "Voldemort~" her statement was a combination of shock and horror.
"Very good, Professor." He hissed the words in a sarcastic tone. "We've gone to quite an extreme feat to accommodate you, so perhaps you would be so kind as to answer a few questions. For example, do you know anything about the defenses at Hogwarts?"
Angeline was furious and frightened at the same time. One minute she is in her room and the next she face to face with evil itself. "No, and if I did, I would die before I told you."
Voldemort laughed, and it caused Angeline to shiver. "That is a very brave answer, Professor Atwood, but not very bright." He pointed his wand at her and said, "Crucio."
Angeline heard herself scream. The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Every muscle within her body felt as though it were being ripped out of place and set on fire. She tried to breathe, but the weight on her chest made it quite impossible. Just when she thought that she could no longer endure the pain, it stopped. She tasted blood in her mouth, and could feel a broken bone in her leg.
Voldemort held a superior expression on his face as he spoke. "Let that serve as a lesson to you Professor. The pain can always be much worse and last much longer if you do not cooperate."
Angeline opened her eyes and focused her vision back on Voldemort. She saw a swarm of hooded and masked individuals filing in behind him. They formed a circle around the inner perimeter of the cavern, leaving Angeline in the center. Two hooded figures approached Voldemort.
"Now, there is someone who would like to say hello to you," Voldemort said in a cold tone.
The taller of the two pulled off his hood and glared down at Angeline. "Hello, child."
Angeline looked at the man in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. A flood of horrible memories flooded her mind as she fought to keep control of her senses.
"Don't worry, Ange. Everything is going to be fine now," Lyle whispered while pulling back his hood as well.
"Lyle, how could you?" her heart sank in her chest. She felt completely alone. It was at that moment that she realized she was going to die.
"He promised to get father out of Azkaban if I got you here. He promised not to hurt you, Ange."
Voldemort stepped to the foot of the stone platform and interrupted them. "As much as I hate to break up this little family reunion, we must get started." He held up Angeline's wand and broke it in half.
"No!" she protested, but it was too late. The very symbol of her status as a witch had just been broken before her very eyes.
Voldemort laughed at her reaction, as did Gregor Devans, her father. "Now, drink this," Voldemort commanded to Angeline.
"No," she said, turning her head from him.
"Crucio."
Angeline cried out again and pulled at the ropes that held her. She swore she could feel her flesh ripping as her body felt ablaze. The pain lasted longer than the previous time. She barely heard her brother yelling, and then the pain stopped. As she fought to remain conscious, she heard her brother again.
"You promised that you wouldn't hurt her!" he was screaming and lunging towards Voldemort.
"Fool! Get him out of my sight," Voldemort commanded, and one of the masked Death Eaters forced Lyle out of the room. "Now, drink this or I shall not be as merciful as I have been."
"I am not afraid of you~" Angeline managed to stammer out in between gasps for air.
"Imperio." Angeline could still hear everything, but she no longer had control of her actions. "Now, for the last time, drink this." She did as she was commanded, and Voldemort dropped the curse.
Immediately, Angeline felt her entire body go cold. She was extremely aware of every pain, cut, and broken bone throughout her body. She could feel herself shivering, and she became severely nauseated. The circle of Death Eaters began walking in a circle around the room chanting something in a mumble too low for Angeline to hear, although she already knew what was taking place.
Devans now had the pieces of broken wand in his hand. He tore each of the halves in half and placed one piece at her head, one at each hand, and one at her feet. Another Death Eater handed Voldemort a large, black dagger.
Voldemort leaned close to Angeline. "I suppose you're curious as to what happens next. Well, I won't keep you waiting." With his last word, he took the dagger and made a large, deep incision in each of her wrists. This time, Angeline did not scream. Although it was painful, she had no more fight left in her. The binding potion had rendered her quite weak and defenseless, as would any potion designed to, quite literally, suck the magic out of a person.
Angeline felt the blood flowing out of her arms. Voldemort took two vials of blood from each of her wrists and placed the contents into four different goblets. A Death Eater poured what appeared to be water into each of the goblets. Then everyone in the room left the circle quietly as two more figures appeared.
Voldemort handed a goblet to the man and woman, and he gave the third to Devans. They turned the goblets up and drank the newly formed potion, as did Voldemort. The moment they did, Angeline felt what was left of her powers leave her. It was an odd feeling. She began to shake, although she was squirming to keep sweat from gathering in her eyes. She fidgeted uncomfortably in one last attempt to free herself.
Devans came up to Angeline laughing in a cold, sinister manner.
Snape apparated just in time to see a tall man leaning over Angeline's body. "Well, child, you proved me wrong. It looks like you have proven useful for something for once in your life. You just gave us dominating powers that you couldn't even begin to comprehend." The man ran his hand through her hair. "Too bad you have to die ~ just like your mother met her fate."
"Petrificous totalis!" Ron jumped out from somewhere behind a wall. Snape glared in horror at the sight of him.
Voldemort raised his hand and sent Ron slamming into a wall. "Foolish child. Did you think you'd play hero? Didn't you know that heroes die an early death?"
As Voldemort raised his wand, Snape pounced on him just in time to prevent Ron from getting hit.
"Stupify!" came another voice. Voldemort knocked Snape across the room to see who else was there with them. "Expelliarmus!" Remus Lupin stood pointing his wand at the Lestranges.
In the midst of the confusion, Harry had managed to sneak over and cut away the ropes on Angeline's hands and feet with the magic knife that Sirius had given him last year. Although there was a strong-holding spell on the ropes, the knife cut through them with ease.
Snape saw Harry out of the corner of his eye and decided to keep Voldemort busy. Wands erupted about the room in a violent struggle. Ron scooted across the floor to Harry. When the fireworks display stopped, both Snape's and Voldemort's wands came hurdling across the floor and landed at Harry's feet. He snatched them both up and looked just in time to see two Snapes.
"Quick, Potter, give me my wand!"
"Potter, give me my wand."
Harry started at both of the Snapes. "Lupin! What should I do?"
Lupin kept his eyes on the Lestranges. "You have to decide, Harry. Use your intuition."
Harry suddenly got a brilliant idea. He threw two wands to the Snapes and they both grabbed one. One yelled "Petrificous Totalis" and the other "Avada Kadavra."
Snape shut his eyes and prepared for the worst, but it did not come. Instead, he found himself turned into a canary.
Harry grabbed the canary and ran as the mouse on the floor hopped furiously and shook its tiny fists.
Lupin commanded the Lestranges with a simple 'Petrificous,' and they joined an immobile Devans on the ground. He then picked Angeline up off the platform and carried her out the back entrance after the others.
Just before they reached the portkey that had brought them there, the canary turned back into a slightly bruised and completely irate Snape. "Potter! I ought to break your neck!"
"At least we know we got the right one," Lupin lightly commented.
"Bring them here!" they heard Voldemort yelling from the top of the hill. The Death Eaters were soon running down the hill toward them.
Angeline tried to stop shaking, but she had no control over it. She knew she was being carried somewhere, but her vision had blurred and faded to the point that only shadows and fuzzy shapes were discernable. She closed her eyes and tried to fight off the light headed feeling that was growing in her mind.
"Hang on," Lupin whispered to Angeline. "We're almost there, dear, don't give up now."
Snape looked considerately at Angeline. "Get back to the school, Lupin."
"Severus, don't be stupid. You can't stay here and fight them by yourself~"
"Go!" Snape cut him off and stopped running.
Lupin shook his head in protest, but kept moving towards the portkey with Harry, Ron, and Angeline. He knew that Snape didn't stand a chance against so many Death Eaters and Voldemort, but he had to see to the safety of the children. "Stubborn," he muttered as they grabbed the portkey.
"What is he doing?" Harry asked.
"He's probably going to salvage a few pieces of her wand."
"Why?" Ron chimed in. "Does he have a death wish?"
"Your professor is dying," Lupin said in a gentle manner. "There's no known antidote for the poison in a binding potion, but if Severus can get at least one piece of her wand, he can use it in a potion to slow down the effects of the binding potion. He's probably hoping to buy some time to find a way to stop the poison."
They all placed their hands on the portkey, which happened to be an old, wooden board. Harry turned just in time to see Snape being hit with some sort of curse from Voldemort's wand. Harry realized he must have dropped Snape's wand in the hurry to retreat. Without giving it a second thought, Harry let go of the portkey.
"Harry! No!" was all Lupin was able to say before the portkey pulled them away.
Harry stayed low to the ground. No one had noticed that he had not disappeared with Lupin, which gave him an advantage. He watched as the Death Eaters dragged Snape back into the cavern, and then he made his way silently back up the hill.
"Severus Snape," Voldemort mused as he walked around him. Snape had been forced to his knees and was looking up at Voldemort with contempt and hatred. "You shall be used as an example today, Severus." Voldemort turned to face his followers. "Let it be known now, traitors shall be dealt with in a most unmerciful manner." He pointed his wand at Snape and raised him into the air with a blast of red light. Snape slammed hard into a rock wall and fell into the dirt. Before he had a chance to move or speak, Voldemort sent him shooting into wall after wall, each time harder than the next. He landed the last time next to the ritual platform. In between gasps for air, he grabbed two of the shards of Angeline's broken wand and casually placed them into his robe pocket before raising himself carefully off of the ground.
Harry peered carefully inside the room just as Snape was hit with the Cruciatus curse again. He pulled out his wand and aimed it straight at the path of magic that was holding Snape. "Relashio!"
Voldemort was caught off guard, but continued to hold the stream of light. He moved its focus to Harry. Their wands reacted violently, but both held their ground. "You will pay for this, child!" The Death Eaters moved forward to help, but Voldemort commanded them to remain where they were. "I shall enjoy watching you both die."
Snape was wincing when Voldemort's attention was turned. Each breath he took sent a stabbing pain into his lungs. He raised a hand to wipe the blood from his mouth, and he saw Harry and Voldemort fighting. His hands were shaking as he raised the wand the wand that had earlier been neglected on the ground. He took a slow breath and steadied his hand. "Incindio." Flames shot out of Snape's wand and hit Voldemort's robes.
Voldemort held his connection with Harry, determined to wear out his energy. He used his free hand to shoot Snape across the room. Snape landed outside, face-first in the grass. He forced himself to his feet and prepared to rush in again. He knew that he had to get Harry out alive. As he started to limp back inside, Gregor Devans appeared from behind a nearby tree and stopped him.
"So, you're the git that my little girl is sweet on."
The statement caught Snape off guard, but he was too concerned with getting Voldemort away from Harry to stay and listen. He pushed past Devans but was knocked backwards to the ground by an explosion of green thundering light. A second later, Harry came running out followed by a large, black dog.
"Hurry!" Harry grabbed Snape by the arm and helped him to his feet. The dog was also pushing at him. "C'mon, Sir," Harry urgently prodded him again.
As they approached the edge of the woods, Harry glanced back and noticed Snape was having trouble keeping up. The black dog would push at him every few moments to make him move faster.
Snape's ribs were broken, and every breath he took was a new experience in pain. "Blasted! Would you two go on already?" he commented in an irritated tone. "Potter," Snape grimaced and braced himself on a tree, "you've got to make it to the other side of the forest. The school is just beyond that."
Harry's face grew paler as he realized just how close they were to the school, and that he was going to have to go all the way through the Forbidden Forest. "I'm not leaving without you."
"You may have no choice. I can't run."
The black dog changed into Sirius and walked over to where Snape had braced himself. At that moment Voldemort approached them. Harry prepared for the worst and stepped in front of Snape.
Snape realized just how much Harry was like his father, and it rekindled his spark of bitterness for him. The feeling was quickly replaced by his indebtedness to James Potter, and he moved Harry aside.
Voldemort raised his wand. He had a twisted, evil grin on his face and hatred in his eyes. "And now, this ends," he hissed. "Avada Kedavara!"
Everything happened in a split second. Sirius had grabbed Snape by on arm and was dragging him as fast as his legs could carry him. Harry had placed a shielding charm around them, and Lyle had appeared and placed himself directly in the path of Voldemort's curse. In the midst of the chaos, Lyle had not screamed. He said only, "Take care of her." The green light hit Lyle, and Snape saw him die, as he, Sirius, and Harry disappeared into the forest.
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"Where are Harry and Severus?" Dumbledore questioned as he lead Lupin and Ron up the stairs toward the medical wing.
"I'm so sorry, Albus. Severus went back to try and get the pieces of~" Lupin realized that he didn't know the name of the woman he was carrying.
"Angeline," Dumbledore said.
"Well, he went to get the pieces of Angeline's wand. Harry saw Voldemort use the Cruciatus on Severus, and he let go of the portkey before I could stop him."
"Just like his father," Dumbledore said as they entered the medical room.
Madam Pomfrey scurried over to the incoming crowd and allowed a look of horror to cross her face. "Put her here," she breathed, and Lupin placed Angeline on one of the beds in the corner of the room. Pomfrey flitted about with different potions, but nothing seemed to work. She rushed back and forth and worked frantically. She had even pulled out her wand in an attempt to close Angeline's bleeding wounds by charms. After a few moments of contemplation, she turned to Dumbledore. "Sir, magic is not working on her."
Angeline's entire body was shaking violently, and she had blood still pouring from her wrists where Voldemort had cut her.
"Poppy, you're going to have to do it like the muggles do it. She has the binding poison in her system."
Madam Pomfrey looked disgusted. She didn't approve of doing medicine without magic, but she knew Dumbledore was right. Reluctantly, she disappeared into a side room and returned carrying a large, dusty white box. She pulled from it a surgical needle and thread and a bottle of sterile water and alcohol. Hermione walked in just as Madam Pomfrey began stitching. Her mouth fell open and she dropped the thick book she was carrying.
"Is ~ is she ~"
Lupin picked up Hermione's book and looked at her compassionately. "She's alive, Hermione, but she is in very bad shape." Lupin glanced back at Angeline. "I'm afraid that Voldemort completed the ceremony before we got there." He looked down at the book in his hand. "Forbidden Curses and Perplexing Hexes." As he handed it back to Hermione, he realized that Dumbledore must have written her a pass for the restricted section of the library. "What did you discover?"
Hermione blinked, returning to reality. "Absolutely nothing. There are only theories and speculations, but no one mentions anything about counter curses or counter rituals."
Lupin nodded. He knew she wouldn't find anything useful. Very few Binding curses had been performed because the conditions for the ceremony were rare. The phases of the moon and the positioning of the stars played key roles in the activation of the potion. Binding had remained virtually irreversible due to lack of research. The person who drank the Binding potion usually bled to death because wizards generally were not skilled in muggle operations. Those fortunate enough to have a skilled mediwizard or surgeon nearby only prolonged their suffering. The poison from the potion caused prolonged rebellion in the person's body. The person would have terrible muscle tremors, sub-normal body temperatures, hallucinations, and would remain in a semi-conscious state of restlessness. Their body would virtually wear out and break down, and the person would lose all energy and eventually just stop fighting. Lupin knew, judging by the look on Hermione's face, that she realized the professor could only have a matter of hours or days. Death could come at any time, depending on the professor's will to live.
Madam Pomfrey worked furiously and with skilled precision. As she secured the last stitch in place, shuffling footsteps broke the silence in the room.
"Harry!" Ron and Hermione rushed to greet their friend. Just behind Harry came Sirius and Snape.
Sirius was allowing Snape to use him as a human crutch, as Snape's left leg seemed to be stiff as a board. Snape was clutching protectively at his ribs as they hobbled into the room.
"Severus, what happened to you?" Dumbledore moved to help him sit down in a chair near Angeline's bed.
"Voldemort decided to use me as an example to the Death Eaters who might have been contemplating disloyalty," he answered half heartedly. Every ounce of pride had been ripped from him for having to accept help from Sirius Black ~ and Harry. He watched Madam Pomfrey set Angeline's broken leg and begin to splint it. "I have been a complete fool," he thought to himself. Despair washed over him as the reality of the situation hit him. Voldemort had completed the ceremony, and he was powerless to change the effects. When he was a Death Eater, it had been easy for him to kill without regard to anything or anyone, but now ~"
Snape's mind wandered back to the night his mother had died. He was six years old and had cried all morning. When his father had come into the room, he had received a sound thrashing and an explanation about the foolishness of showing emotions. His father had always been a stern tyrant who believed men were supposed to be forceful, emotionless creatures, and Snape had been taught thus, until he turned eleven and his father was killed. Throughout his life, his father had made it quite impossible to make any friends, and he had been very bitter because of it.
When Snape entered Hogwarts, he had remained pretty much to himself at first , but soon found himself becoming popular with the students who were having trouble in potions class. Despite his desire to fit in, however, Snape had never done very well outside of his role of tutor.
When he was in his second year at Hogwarts, Snape had joined the Quidditch team as a beater, a position that did not win him any fame from the other houses. He was constantly accused of using excessive force to disable opposing players, and this is what spurred his initial conflict with the famous Marauders. During one game, a bludger hit one of James' friends and had broken his arm. James scolded Severus and gave him a speech about pride and honor. Severus had retaliated by pointing out that mischief and trouble making were not honorable either, but that James and his circle of friends were constantly up to something none the less.
During the summer, Severus stayed in a room in a run down inn between Knocturn alley and Diagon alley. It was the only thing that kept him out of muggle orphanages. One summer, Lily Evans had discovered his secret and had befriended him, offering to help him out when she could. She was the first friend he had ever had ~ and she was dead because of his inability to act fast enough. He had loved his mother dearly, despite her problems, and she was dead. As far as he knew, his older brother was dead as well ~ at least he might as well be. Snape had not heard word of him or his sister- in-law since they fled when he was still a child.
Snape had long since allowed his heart to turn away those things which he longed to allow near him, but then she came, and now ~ now she was going to leave him too. It appeared that he corrupted everything he touched. He had allowed himself to feel love again, and again he was faced with the defeat that always came with it.
Lupin and Sirius were standing back talking to Dumbledore in low whispers. Harry figured they were catching up on everything that had happened. He noticed the three looking curiously at Snape and he followed their gaze. Snape seemed to be no where in the room, despite the fact that his body was in the room. Madam Pomfrey had done all she could for Angeline and had turned her attention to Snape, who hardly seemed to notice that she was even speaking to him.
"Professor Snape ~ Severus," Madam Pomfrey repeated for the fourth time. "Drink this. It will fix those broken bones." Snape shook his head as if coming out of a trance and accepted the potion without protest. He kept his eyes fixed on Angeline who was moving sluggishly in a restless fit. "Did you managed to get her wand back?"
Snape frowned and looked up at the mediwitch. How could he have forgotten so easily? "Yes."
"Perhaps Remus could bring your things up to the infirmary and you could work on the potion. It might be of some help now that the bleeding's stopped."
Remus nodded and stepped forward, understanding Poppy's attempt to get Snape's mind off of what was seemingly inevitable. "I'll be back with your cauldron ~ what ingredients do you need?"
Harry felt a wave of pity rush through him. The entire situation seemed hopeless, and yet he felt inclined to find some way to help, just as Lupin and Snape were doing. He walked over to Hermione and Ron and coerced them into the hall where they could talk. "We've got to go back to Ms. Angeline's room," Harry said in a hushed tone.
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Her brother knew what they were going to do, but he still brought her to the Death Eaters."
"So he was a heartless creep," Hermione sobbed, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"He sacrificed himself to keep us from getting killed. He kept saying that Voldemort promised not to hurt her ~"
"So he got a conscience before he died. A bloody bit of good it did."
"Hermione, I think he truly did care about his sister. He must have known something about that Binding potion that we don't."
Hermione's face lit up. "Miss Angeline has a diary. She keeps all kinds of experimental potions in it."
"You don't think that maybe she figured out a counter potion for the poison, do you?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Well, what else would her brother have been looking for?"
"If you three are scheming, you'd better get to moving. Time is running out fast." Sirius stepped up behind them. "I don't think Severus is in any frame of mind to give suggestions, and since the potions expert is busy with something at the moment, we're in a bit of a spot."
The three nodded and headed down to Angeline's room with Sirius behind them. He quickly changed back into a dog when he remembered that there were students moving throughout the castle.
The day passed by more quickly than they had hoped. Now it was nearly midnight, and they still had not located the diary.
Hermione laid down on the bed and suppressed her desire to cry. "I just don't understand it. We've looked everywhere."
Ron wearily sat down on the floor next to the bed. The disaster that the room had been in before paled in comparison to its present state. He yawned and looked down at the floor. A tiny piece of splintered wood on the bedroom bureau caught his eye. There was something odd about it.
"I hate to say this, but perhaps we ought to call it a night," Sirius sighed while tossing a pile of papers down on the desk.
Ron pulled at the splinter. The moment he did, a stone came flying out of the wall and into his lap. Ron stood up excitedly. Inside the stone was a small, leather book that had been stained and bent by years of use. "This is it!"
Hermione grabbed the book and opened the cover. No words were visible on the page. "Aparecium," she commanded, but nothing happened. "Oh no! She has a magic lock on the pages ~ Wait ~ ~" Hermione thought hard. She had spent many afternoons with Angeline, and she knew she had seen a tiny key in there before. "Oh! I remember," she squealed and ran over to the bookshelf and stood on the chair next to it so that she could reach the top. She felt along the top and found the key.
After the book was opened, Hermione flipped through anxiously and triumphantly found the page containing the counter potion. Her spirits dropped as she read the ingredients.
Sirius was looking over her shoulder and realized why Hermione's excitement died.
"How are we supposed to get these things? Only half of them are in Professor Snape's private stores."
"What's missing?" Harry asked, feeling like he already knew the answer.
"Re'em's blood, Lethifold, a piece of the affected person's wand, two tears from a Phoenix, and the blood of a relative."
"Well, Dumbledore has a Phoenix," Ron offered, although sadly.
"Severus got two pieces of Angeline's wand, and he's only using one in his potion. The other three will be a problem."
"That Devans fellow ~ he said he was her father ~"
"They've long gone by now, Harry, and besides, that sorry excuse for a human won't just willingly donate his blood for the cause. As for the Re'em blood and the Lethifold, those aren't even buyable objects on the open market."
Harry remembered what Fleur had told him, and he understood why the Death Eaters had been looking for the vials. They wanted to make sure there was no way for Angeline to survive. As a mediphagic, she obviously posed quite a threat to Voldemort.
"Hermione, you and Ron go and gather everything else we'll need to make the potion and meet me in the hospital wing in fifteen minutes," Harry said. His mind was working overtime as he dragged Sirius out the door. "I've got to speak to Dumbledore."
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Snape had spent the entire evening in a chair at Angeline's side. Madam Pomfrey had urged him several times to get some rest, but he had refused and brushed her off with irritation.
Lupin had elected to keep an eye on Snape and Angeline, and Madam Pomfrey left to tend to her other patients in the next room. Angeline had spent most of the day tossing and turning, and Snape had to calm her several times when she had bolted upright in the bed yelling in her hallucinations. It had proven to be an exhausting task, and Snape, who had not slept in over twenty-four hours, had finally fallen asleep slumped over in his chair. Lupin assumed that Madam Pomfrey's last potion probably had something to do with it as well because like clockwork, she had appeared with a blanket for him not five minutes after he had dozed.
Lupin looked at his pocket watch and sighed. Poppy had long since gone to bed leaving Lupin alone with his thoughts. He walked lightly past Snape, not wanting to wake him, and stood on the other side of Angeline's bed. He placed his hand on her forehead. Her skin was cool to the touch, and she did not respond to his touch by stirring. He looked at his watch again and shook his head. She was dying.
Lupin contemplated waking Snape up, but he was not sure that it was a good idea. He noticed that Angeline's breathing had become shallow and her skin was extremely pale. He decided to go and tell Dumbledore that they had run out of time. As he crossed the room, Hermione and Ron entered with handfuls of potions ingredients.
"We found the counter potion in Ms. Angeline's diary," Hermione whispered.
Lupin's countenance grew hopeful. "Then it must be made quickly. Time is running out."
Hermione grew a bit panicked. "We don't have all of the ingredients. We have to have the blood of a relative ~ and her brother is dead now ~"
Snape had heard the last part of their conversation and interrupted Hermione. "Then I will go and get blood from her father."
Unaware that Snape was awake, the three jumped and whirled around to face him. Snape stood stiffly and moved across the room. He still ached where his ribs had been broken, and it caused him to wince slightly.
"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore said as he, Sirius, and Harry walked into the room. "I believe we have everything we need."
"Then we must make it now," Lupin began again. "She is in the final phase of the poison's affects."
Snape took the book from Hermione and peered over the ingredients and procedure. Harry, as though reading his mind, pulled the Lethifold vial and the Re'em blood vial from his bag and handed them to Snape. "Theses were stolen from my personal store this summer ~ how did you get them, Potter?"
"I am not allowed to say, Sir," Harry answered. He expected an interrogation to follow, but Snape had too much on his mind to pursue the matter at the moment.
Snape set about preparing the potion with precision. Harry was amazed at how steady Snape's hands were considering everything that had happened.
All of the ingredients were ready ~ except for the blood. It was to be added last.
"Hermione, hold out your hand," Sirius whispered. She looked at him with pure confusion, but she did as she was told.
"I've been doing a little researching, Hermione," Dumbledore began. "When you told me that you had been taught how to summon mentally, I decided to trace your family history. Do you know much about your family?"
"Well, both of my parents are muggles. Mum has a brother and a sister ~ they're muggles ~ and my grandparents were muggles."
"It seems that your great-grandparents were magic wielders. They had four children. Three of those children also had magical abilities. The fourth, you grandmother, did not. She was quite outcast by this, and distanced herself from the family."
"I don't understand ~ what does that have to do with me?"
"I wasn't quite sure until a few hours ago. You see, Hermione, the ability to summon is strictly genetic. Someone in your family had to have the power before you ~ It seems that your great aunt Lelahna did indeed have those powers." Dumbledore paused and a small smile appeared on his face. "Lelahna married and had two children, one of them whom also had the power to summon. Her daughter's name was Angeline."
"You mean ~ I am related to Ms. Angeline? ~ ~ She is my ~"
"Second cousin."
Sirius held the dagger out and Hermione found herself giving blood for a second time.
Snape took the blood that Sirius drew from Hermione and added it to the potion. The concoction gave up a puff of smoke and then settled, indicating that it was ready. He poured the potion into a glass and moved over to Angeline's bed. He noticed that her necklace was completely clear and dormant. Her breathing was almost not noticeable. His urgency sent a sudden surge of adrenaline pumping through his veins as he raised Angeline's limp body upright in the bed. He tilted her head back and forced the potion successfully down her throat.
The silence in the room was piercing. One minute went by ~ then two ~ and finally three. No one moved. Snape realized he was holding his breath, and he let it out slowly. He held her close to him and continued to wait. He wondered if he had done something wrong. Perhaps the potion didn't work, Maybe he had waited too late. "I'm the one that deserves this, not her," he kept repeating in his mind. "I'll never be able to apologize for my behavior," he thought miserably.
Angeline's body stiffened in pain, and she breathed in forcefully and groaned, breaking Snape's thoughts. Whether instinctively or by accident, she clutched Snape's hand as another contraction of pain hit. Then, just as abruptly as it began, Angeline's body fell limp again. This time, however, she seemed peaceful, almost as though she had just fallen into a deep sleep.
Lupin reached down and checked Angeline's pulse, being cautious not to rip her stitches. Her skin felt warmer than it had the last time he checked. Her breathing was now even and unlabored. Lupin smiled. "It worked. She's going to be fine. I'll go get Poppy."
The room gave up a silent cheer as not to wake her. Snape lowered her gently to the bed and then moved over to the chair and collapsed. His adrenaline rush had fled him, and he was left only with exhaustion and a feeling of gratefulness.
Harry looked at Snape before following everyone into the hall. Snape appeared as though he had aged ten years over night.
"I'll stay in the room across the hall tonight, just in case. I'm sure they'll be fine though," Lupin said to Dumbledore after returning with Poppy.
"Sirius can stay in our room tonight," Harry said.
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "You may want to resume the identity of Padfoot just in case any of the students wake up," he suggested to Sirius. "I am extremely proud of the three of you," he said, turning his attention to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "You have shown an incredible amount of courage and caring. Always look to this night when you are in doubt of your friendships or your abilities." With that, the group dissipated.
Snape watched Angeline sleeping peacefully for a few moments. He could no longer hear anyone in the hall, and he assumed they must have left them to rest. He was grateful for the silence, and after taking one last glance at Angeline and assuring himself that she would be fine, he nodded off in the chair before he had a chance to think of anything else.
Hermione came back in the room to get Angeline's diary. She did not want anyone to have the opportunity to read it. She picked the book up silently and glanced over at Angeline and Snape. A feeling of extreme gratitude and concern flooded her heart. In some ways, her life had changed permanently in one night. As she thought about how exciting it was going to be introducing her newly found cousin to her parents and possibly being able to learn more about the rest of her family, she picked up the blanket off the floor and placed it around Snape. She looked at him considerably for a moment and then left the room as silently as she had entered.
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A/N: Whew! That took me forever to type! My fingers feel like I've been playing Nintendo for hours. (You know, the old "Nintendo thumb" feeling). Anyway, thanks for hanging on this long. You have made it over the hump, and now there are a few housecleaning issues to tend to ~ Mwahahaha ~ But fear not! Madam Arianna still has a few tricks left up her robe sleeves, so stay tuned!
The next chapter: Aftermath
And by the way, don't forget to REVIEW!!!
"
A/N: I want to apologize ahead of time for the horrendous format that this chapter will no doubt turn out to look like once uploaded on to ffnet. I have Windows XP, which I understand is still having "issues." I understand what a pain it is to try and read something when all of the paragraphs are shoved together and the punctuation doesn't appear correct. At any rate, here goes nothin'
~Chapter 20~
Everyone sat and talked excitedly about the nights events during breakfast. Hermione looked up at the head table and noticed that Angeline, Snape, Lyle, and Dumbledore still had not arrived, and Hermione was losing patience. "I'm going to go see if Ms. Angeline is in her room," she said while jumping up from the table.
"Hang on. We'll come with you," Ron said following her out with Harry not far behind.
As they approached Angeline's door, they noticed the door was slightly ajar. "That's strange," Hermione whispered, "she usually keeps her door locked." She knocked on the door three times but no answer came. "Ms. Angeline?" Hermione pronounced, yet still there was no answer.
Harry's scar began to burn again. It had stopped just before he fell asleep, and he had been grateful. This time, at least, it was only a dull pain. "Open the door, Hermione."
As the door was pushed open, all three exchanged looks of confusion. Angeline's normally neat and tidy room looked as if a cyclone had moved through it. Books were lying about across the floor and the pictures were taken off the walls. Hermione ran into the bedroom to discover the same scene. The mattress had been removed from the bed, and all of the drawers in the bureau were overturned with their contents strewn about the room.
Hermione sprinted out the door to go check Angeline's office. Just as she entered the hall, she slammed right into Snape and fell to the floor.
"Miss Granger, get a pair of glasses! Do you EVER watch where you are going?" Snape's tone was harsh. He grabbed Hermione by the arm and jerked her up to her feet. "What are you three~" Snape still had his mouth open to finish the sentence, but the sight inside Angeline's room made him stop. "What is going on here? Are you three responsible for this mess?"
"No, Sir," Hermione whispered. Snape was still gripping her arm, and his grip was tightening by the second. "Please, Sir ~ you're hurting me."
He let go of her arm, unaware that he had been clutching it the entire time. He moved into the room and surveyed the chaos. On the floor near the fireplace, he noticed a shattered tea cup. Around it, on the rugs, was a white stain that definitely not characteristic of tea. Just as he knelt down to examine the area closer, Dumbledore raced into the room, slightly out of breath.
"Oh, no," was his first response to the scene. "Severus~"
Snape was lost in thought as he held a piece of the cup in his hand. Dumbledore repeated Snape's name, and he shook his head to re-focus and dropped the shard of cup. "There was a strong dose of sleeping potion in the tea she was drinking," he concluded while standing to face the headmaster.
"Severus, I just received word from one of our Aurors. The Death Eaters are performing a Binding Ceremony."
Snape's face was filled with anger. "Then Mister Atwood has been playing triple agent. He has sold out his own sister."
Harry watched Snape clench his jaw. "He is a Death Eater," Harry said more to himself than anyone else. "But why did he tear the room apart?"
Snape became aware of the students and a feeling of irritability overcame him. It was quickly replaced by urgency, however, and he headed out the door.
"Severus, it is unwise to go rushing headlong into danger. You know better than anyone that you cannot expect Voldemort to just let you walk in and get her out."
"And I also know that once the ceremony is complete, Voldemort will kill her ~ if she isn't already dead at that point."
Dumbledore took a thoughtful look at Snape. "You may not make it out alive."
Snape nodded. That was a fact that he was almost certain of, but he did not care. He took one last look at Dumbledore and left the room. Harry's face was expressionless as Snape ran outside to disapperate. Snape wondered briefly if this would be his last encounter with the infamous Harry Potter.
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Angeline opened her eyes and attempted to sit up. She quickly found it to be quite an impossible task. She turned her head from side to side and realized for the first time that she was not in her room. "What on earth~" she mumbled, still groggy.
The room was large and cavernous. There was a cold breeze moving through the room and it caused the burning incense on the ground to swirl about the cavern. Angeline had been secured to a large stone platform in the center of the floor amidst the candles and incense.
She began to struggle with the ropes that held her. "If I could just get to my wand~"
"Well, good morning, Professor Atwood. Looking for this?"
Angeline looked up and saw a man standing at the foot of the stone platform. In his hand was Angeline's wand. "Voldemort~" her statement was a combination of shock and horror.
"Very good, Professor." He hissed the words in a sarcastic tone. "We've gone to quite an extreme feat to accommodate you, so perhaps you would be so kind as to answer a few questions. For example, do you know anything about the defenses at Hogwarts?"
Angeline was furious and frightened at the same time. One minute she is in her room and the next she face to face with evil itself. "No, and if I did, I would die before I told you."
Voldemort laughed, and it caused Angeline to shiver. "That is a very brave answer, Professor Atwood, but not very bright." He pointed his wand at her and said, "Crucio."
Angeline heard herself scream. The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Every muscle within her body felt as though it were being ripped out of place and set on fire. She tried to breathe, but the weight on her chest made it quite impossible. Just when she thought that she could no longer endure the pain, it stopped. She tasted blood in her mouth, and could feel a broken bone in her leg.
Voldemort held a superior expression on his face as he spoke. "Let that serve as a lesson to you Professor. The pain can always be much worse and last much longer if you do not cooperate."
Angeline opened her eyes and focused her vision back on Voldemort. She saw a swarm of hooded and masked individuals filing in behind him. They formed a circle around the inner perimeter of the cavern, leaving Angeline in the center. Two hooded figures approached Voldemort.
"Now, there is someone who would like to say hello to you," Voldemort said in a cold tone.
The taller of the two pulled off his hood and glared down at Angeline. "Hello, child."
Angeline looked at the man in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. A flood of horrible memories flooded her mind as she fought to keep control of her senses.
"Don't worry, Ange. Everything is going to be fine now," Lyle whispered while pulling back his hood as well.
"Lyle, how could you?" her heart sank in her chest. She felt completely alone. It was at that moment that she realized she was going to die.
"He promised to get father out of Azkaban if I got you here. He promised not to hurt you, Ange."
Voldemort stepped to the foot of the stone platform and interrupted them. "As much as I hate to break up this little family reunion, we must get started." He held up Angeline's wand and broke it in half.
"No!" she protested, but it was too late. The very symbol of her status as a witch had just been broken before her very eyes.
Voldemort laughed at her reaction, as did Gregor Devans, her father. "Now, drink this," Voldemort commanded to Angeline.
"No," she said, turning her head from him.
"Crucio."
Angeline cried out again and pulled at the ropes that held her. She swore she could feel her flesh ripping as her body felt ablaze. The pain lasted longer than the previous time. She barely heard her brother yelling, and then the pain stopped. As she fought to remain conscious, she heard her brother again.
"You promised that you wouldn't hurt her!" he was screaming and lunging towards Voldemort.
"Fool! Get him out of my sight," Voldemort commanded, and one of the masked Death Eaters forced Lyle out of the room. "Now, drink this or I shall not be as merciful as I have been."
"I am not afraid of you~" Angeline managed to stammer out in between gasps for air.
"Imperio." Angeline could still hear everything, but she no longer had control of her actions. "Now, for the last time, drink this." She did as she was commanded, and Voldemort dropped the curse.
Immediately, Angeline felt her entire body go cold. She was extremely aware of every pain, cut, and broken bone throughout her body. She could feel herself shivering, and she became severely nauseated. The circle of Death Eaters began walking in a circle around the room chanting something in a mumble too low for Angeline to hear, although she already knew what was taking place.
Devans now had the pieces of broken wand in his hand. He tore each of the halves in half and placed one piece at her head, one at each hand, and one at her feet. Another Death Eater handed Voldemort a large, black dagger.
Voldemort leaned close to Angeline. "I suppose you're curious as to what happens next. Well, I won't keep you waiting." With his last word, he took the dagger and made a large, deep incision in each of her wrists. This time, Angeline did not scream. Although it was painful, she had no more fight left in her. The binding potion had rendered her quite weak and defenseless, as would any potion designed to, quite literally, suck the magic out of a person.
Angeline felt the blood flowing out of her arms. Voldemort took two vials of blood from each of her wrists and placed the contents into four different goblets. A Death Eater poured what appeared to be water into each of the goblets. Then everyone in the room left the circle quietly as two more figures appeared.
Voldemort handed a goblet to the man and woman, and he gave the third to Devans. They turned the goblets up and drank the newly formed potion, as did Voldemort. The moment they did, Angeline felt what was left of her powers leave her. It was an odd feeling. She began to shake, although she was squirming to keep sweat from gathering in her eyes. She fidgeted uncomfortably in one last attempt to free herself.
Devans came up to Angeline laughing in a cold, sinister manner.
Snape apparated just in time to see a tall man leaning over Angeline's body. "Well, child, you proved me wrong. It looks like you have proven useful for something for once in your life. You just gave us dominating powers that you couldn't even begin to comprehend." The man ran his hand through her hair. "Too bad you have to die ~ just like your mother met her fate."
"Petrificous totalis!" Ron jumped out from somewhere behind a wall. Snape glared in horror at the sight of him.
Voldemort raised his hand and sent Ron slamming into a wall. "Foolish child. Did you think you'd play hero? Didn't you know that heroes die an early death?"
As Voldemort raised his wand, Snape pounced on him just in time to prevent Ron from getting hit.
"Stupify!" came another voice. Voldemort knocked Snape across the room to see who else was there with them. "Expelliarmus!" Remus Lupin stood pointing his wand at the Lestranges.
In the midst of the confusion, Harry had managed to sneak over and cut away the ropes on Angeline's hands and feet with the magic knife that Sirius had given him last year. Although there was a strong-holding spell on the ropes, the knife cut through them with ease.
Snape saw Harry out of the corner of his eye and decided to keep Voldemort busy. Wands erupted about the room in a violent struggle. Ron scooted across the floor to Harry. When the fireworks display stopped, both Snape's and Voldemort's wands came hurdling across the floor and landed at Harry's feet. He snatched them both up and looked just in time to see two Snapes.
"Quick, Potter, give me my wand!"
"Potter, give me my wand."
Harry started at both of the Snapes. "Lupin! What should I do?"
Lupin kept his eyes on the Lestranges. "You have to decide, Harry. Use your intuition."
Harry suddenly got a brilliant idea. He threw two wands to the Snapes and they both grabbed one. One yelled "Petrificous Totalis" and the other "Avada Kadavra."
Snape shut his eyes and prepared for the worst, but it did not come. Instead, he found himself turned into a canary.
Harry grabbed the canary and ran as the mouse on the floor hopped furiously and shook its tiny fists.
Lupin commanded the Lestranges with a simple 'Petrificous,' and they joined an immobile Devans on the ground. He then picked Angeline up off the platform and carried her out the back entrance after the others.
Just before they reached the portkey that had brought them there, the canary turned back into a slightly bruised and completely irate Snape. "Potter! I ought to break your neck!"
"At least we know we got the right one," Lupin lightly commented.
"Bring them here!" they heard Voldemort yelling from the top of the hill. The Death Eaters were soon running down the hill toward them.
Angeline tried to stop shaking, but she had no control over it. She knew she was being carried somewhere, but her vision had blurred and faded to the point that only shadows and fuzzy shapes were discernable. She closed her eyes and tried to fight off the light headed feeling that was growing in her mind.
"Hang on," Lupin whispered to Angeline. "We're almost there, dear, don't give up now."
Snape looked considerately at Angeline. "Get back to the school, Lupin."
"Severus, don't be stupid. You can't stay here and fight them by yourself~"
"Go!" Snape cut him off and stopped running.
Lupin shook his head in protest, but kept moving towards the portkey with Harry, Ron, and Angeline. He knew that Snape didn't stand a chance against so many Death Eaters and Voldemort, but he had to see to the safety of the children. "Stubborn," he muttered as they grabbed the portkey.
"What is he doing?" Harry asked.
"He's probably going to salvage a few pieces of her wand."
"Why?" Ron chimed in. "Does he have a death wish?"
"Your professor is dying," Lupin said in a gentle manner. "There's no known antidote for the poison in a binding potion, but if Severus can get at least one piece of her wand, he can use it in a potion to slow down the effects of the binding potion. He's probably hoping to buy some time to find a way to stop the poison."
They all placed their hands on the portkey, which happened to be an old, wooden board. Harry turned just in time to see Snape being hit with some sort of curse from Voldemort's wand. Harry realized he must have dropped Snape's wand in the hurry to retreat. Without giving it a second thought, Harry let go of the portkey.
"Harry! No!" was all Lupin was able to say before the portkey pulled them away.
Harry stayed low to the ground. No one had noticed that he had not disappeared with Lupin, which gave him an advantage. He watched as the Death Eaters dragged Snape back into the cavern, and then he made his way silently back up the hill.
"Severus Snape," Voldemort mused as he walked around him. Snape had been forced to his knees and was looking up at Voldemort with contempt and hatred. "You shall be used as an example today, Severus." Voldemort turned to face his followers. "Let it be known now, traitors shall be dealt with in a most unmerciful manner." He pointed his wand at Snape and raised him into the air with a blast of red light. Snape slammed hard into a rock wall and fell into the dirt. Before he had a chance to move or speak, Voldemort sent him shooting into wall after wall, each time harder than the next. He landed the last time next to the ritual platform. In between gasps for air, he grabbed two of the shards of Angeline's broken wand and casually placed them into his robe pocket before raising himself carefully off of the ground.
Harry peered carefully inside the room just as Snape was hit with the Cruciatus curse again. He pulled out his wand and aimed it straight at the path of magic that was holding Snape. "Relashio!"
Voldemort was caught off guard, but continued to hold the stream of light. He moved its focus to Harry. Their wands reacted violently, but both held their ground. "You will pay for this, child!" The Death Eaters moved forward to help, but Voldemort commanded them to remain where they were. "I shall enjoy watching you both die."
Snape was wincing when Voldemort's attention was turned. Each breath he took sent a stabbing pain into his lungs. He raised a hand to wipe the blood from his mouth, and he saw Harry and Voldemort fighting. His hands were shaking as he raised the wand the wand that had earlier been neglected on the ground. He took a slow breath and steadied his hand. "Incindio." Flames shot out of Snape's wand and hit Voldemort's robes.
Voldemort held his connection with Harry, determined to wear out his energy. He used his free hand to shoot Snape across the room. Snape landed outside, face-first in the grass. He forced himself to his feet and prepared to rush in again. He knew that he had to get Harry out alive. As he started to limp back inside, Gregor Devans appeared from behind a nearby tree and stopped him.
"So, you're the git that my little girl is sweet on."
The statement caught Snape off guard, but he was too concerned with getting Voldemort away from Harry to stay and listen. He pushed past Devans but was knocked backwards to the ground by an explosion of green thundering light. A second later, Harry came running out followed by a large, black dog.
"Hurry!" Harry grabbed Snape by the arm and helped him to his feet. The dog was also pushing at him. "C'mon, Sir," Harry urgently prodded him again.
As they approached the edge of the woods, Harry glanced back and noticed Snape was having trouble keeping up. The black dog would push at him every few moments to make him move faster.
Snape's ribs were broken, and every breath he took was a new experience in pain. "Blasted! Would you two go on already?" he commented in an irritated tone. "Potter," Snape grimaced and braced himself on a tree, "you've got to make it to the other side of the forest. The school is just beyond that."
Harry's face grew paler as he realized just how close they were to the school, and that he was going to have to go all the way through the Forbidden Forest. "I'm not leaving without you."
"You may have no choice. I can't run."
The black dog changed into Sirius and walked over to where Snape had braced himself. At that moment Voldemort approached them. Harry prepared for the worst and stepped in front of Snape.
Snape realized just how much Harry was like his father, and it rekindled his spark of bitterness for him. The feeling was quickly replaced by his indebtedness to James Potter, and he moved Harry aside.
Voldemort raised his wand. He had a twisted, evil grin on his face and hatred in his eyes. "And now, this ends," he hissed. "Avada Kedavara!"
Everything happened in a split second. Sirius had grabbed Snape by on arm and was dragging him as fast as his legs could carry him. Harry had placed a shielding charm around them, and Lyle had appeared and placed himself directly in the path of Voldemort's curse. In the midst of the chaos, Lyle had not screamed. He said only, "Take care of her." The green light hit Lyle, and Snape saw him die, as he, Sirius, and Harry disappeared into the forest.
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"Where are Harry and Severus?" Dumbledore questioned as he lead Lupin and Ron up the stairs toward the medical wing.
"I'm so sorry, Albus. Severus went back to try and get the pieces of~" Lupin realized that he didn't know the name of the woman he was carrying.
"Angeline," Dumbledore said.
"Well, he went to get the pieces of Angeline's wand. Harry saw Voldemort use the Cruciatus on Severus, and he let go of the portkey before I could stop him."
"Just like his father," Dumbledore said as they entered the medical room.
Madam Pomfrey scurried over to the incoming crowd and allowed a look of horror to cross her face. "Put her here," she breathed, and Lupin placed Angeline on one of the beds in the corner of the room. Pomfrey flitted about with different potions, but nothing seemed to work. She rushed back and forth and worked frantically. She had even pulled out her wand in an attempt to close Angeline's bleeding wounds by charms. After a few moments of contemplation, she turned to Dumbledore. "Sir, magic is not working on her."
Angeline's entire body was shaking violently, and she had blood still pouring from her wrists where Voldemort had cut her.
"Poppy, you're going to have to do it like the muggles do it. She has the binding poison in her system."
Madam Pomfrey looked disgusted. She didn't approve of doing medicine without magic, but she knew Dumbledore was right. Reluctantly, she disappeared into a side room and returned carrying a large, dusty white box. She pulled from it a surgical needle and thread and a bottle of sterile water and alcohol. Hermione walked in just as Madam Pomfrey began stitching. Her mouth fell open and she dropped the thick book she was carrying.
"Is ~ is she ~"
Lupin picked up Hermione's book and looked at her compassionately. "She's alive, Hermione, but she is in very bad shape." Lupin glanced back at Angeline. "I'm afraid that Voldemort completed the ceremony before we got there." He looked down at the book in his hand. "Forbidden Curses and Perplexing Hexes." As he handed it back to Hermione, he realized that Dumbledore must have written her a pass for the restricted section of the library. "What did you discover?"
Hermione blinked, returning to reality. "Absolutely nothing. There are only theories and speculations, but no one mentions anything about counter curses or counter rituals."
Lupin nodded. He knew she wouldn't find anything useful. Very few Binding curses had been performed because the conditions for the ceremony were rare. The phases of the moon and the positioning of the stars played key roles in the activation of the potion. Binding had remained virtually irreversible due to lack of research. The person who drank the Binding potion usually bled to death because wizards generally were not skilled in muggle operations. Those fortunate enough to have a skilled mediwizard or surgeon nearby only prolonged their suffering. The poison from the potion caused prolonged rebellion in the person's body. The person would have terrible muscle tremors, sub-normal body temperatures, hallucinations, and would remain in a semi-conscious state of restlessness. Their body would virtually wear out and break down, and the person would lose all energy and eventually just stop fighting. Lupin knew, judging by the look on Hermione's face, that she realized the professor could only have a matter of hours or days. Death could come at any time, depending on the professor's will to live.
Madam Pomfrey worked furiously and with skilled precision. As she secured the last stitch in place, shuffling footsteps broke the silence in the room.
"Harry!" Ron and Hermione rushed to greet their friend. Just behind Harry came Sirius and Snape.
Sirius was allowing Snape to use him as a human crutch, as Snape's left leg seemed to be stiff as a board. Snape was clutching protectively at his ribs as they hobbled into the room.
"Severus, what happened to you?" Dumbledore moved to help him sit down in a chair near Angeline's bed.
"Voldemort decided to use me as an example to the Death Eaters who might have been contemplating disloyalty," he answered half heartedly. Every ounce of pride had been ripped from him for having to accept help from Sirius Black ~ and Harry. He watched Madam Pomfrey set Angeline's broken leg and begin to splint it. "I have been a complete fool," he thought to himself. Despair washed over him as the reality of the situation hit him. Voldemort had completed the ceremony, and he was powerless to change the effects. When he was a Death Eater, it had been easy for him to kill without regard to anything or anyone, but now ~"
Snape's mind wandered back to the night his mother had died. He was six years old and had cried all morning. When his father had come into the room, he had received a sound thrashing and an explanation about the foolishness of showing emotions. His father had always been a stern tyrant who believed men were supposed to be forceful, emotionless creatures, and Snape had been taught thus, until he turned eleven and his father was killed. Throughout his life, his father had made it quite impossible to make any friends, and he had been very bitter because of it.
When Snape entered Hogwarts, he had remained pretty much to himself at first , but soon found himself becoming popular with the students who were having trouble in potions class. Despite his desire to fit in, however, Snape had never done very well outside of his role of tutor.
When he was in his second year at Hogwarts, Snape had joined the Quidditch team as a beater, a position that did not win him any fame from the other houses. He was constantly accused of using excessive force to disable opposing players, and this is what spurred his initial conflict with the famous Marauders. During one game, a bludger hit one of James' friends and had broken his arm. James scolded Severus and gave him a speech about pride and honor. Severus had retaliated by pointing out that mischief and trouble making were not honorable either, but that James and his circle of friends were constantly up to something none the less.
During the summer, Severus stayed in a room in a run down inn between Knocturn alley and Diagon alley. It was the only thing that kept him out of muggle orphanages. One summer, Lily Evans had discovered his secret and had befriended him, offering to help him out when she could. She was the first friend he had ever had ~ and she was dead because of his inability to act fast enough. He had loved his mother dearly, despite her problems, and she was dead. As far as he knew, his older brother was dead as well ~ at least he might as well be. Snape had not heard word of him or his sister- in-law since they fled when he was still a child.
Snape had long since allowed his heart to turn away those things which he longed to allow near him, but then she came, and now ~ now she was going to leave him too. It appeared that he corrupted everything he touched. He had allowed himself to feel love again, and again he was faced with the defeat that always came with it.
Lupin and Sirius were standing back talking to Dumbledore in low whispers. Harry figured they were catching up on everything that had happened. He noticed the three looking curiously at Snape and he followed their gaze. Snape seemed to be no where in the room, despite the fact that his body was in the room. Madam Pomfrey had done all she could for Angeline and had turned her attention to Snape, who hardly seemed to notice that she was even speaking to him.
"Professor Snape ~ Severus," Madam Pomfrey repeated for the fourth time. "Drink this. It will fix those broken bones." Snape shook his head as if coming out of a trance and accepted the potion without protest. He kept his eyes fixed on Angeline who was moving sluggishly in a restless fit. "Did you managed to get her wand back?"
Snape frowned and looked up at the mediwitch. How could he have forgotten so easily? "Yes."
"Perhaps Remus could bring your things up to the infirmary and you could work on the potion. It might be of some help now that the bleeding's stopped."
Remus nodded and stepped forward, understanding Poppy's attempt to get Snape's mind off of what was seemingly inevitable. "I'll be back with your cauldron ~ what ingredients do you need?"
Harry felt a wave of pity rush through him. The entire situation seemed hopeless, and yet he felt inclined to find some way to help, just as Lupin and Snape were doing. He walked over to Hermione and Ron and coerced them into the hall where they could talk. "We've got to go back to Ms. Angeline's room," Harry said in a hushed tone.
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Her brother knew what they were going to do, but he still brought her to the Death Eaters."
"So he was a heartless creep," Hermione sobbed, "What does that have to do with anything?"
"He sacrificed himself to keep us from getting killed. He kept saying that Voldemort promised not to hurt her ~"
"So he got a conscience before he died. A bloody bit of good it did."
"Hermione, I think he truly did care about his sister. He must have known something about that Binding potion that we don't."
Hermione's face lit up. "Miss Angeline has a diary. She keeps all kinds of experimental potions in it."
"You don't think that maybe she figured out a counter potion for the poison, do you?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Well, what else would her brother have been looking for?"
"If you three are scheming, you'd better get to moving. Time is running out fast." Sirius stepped up behind them. "I don't think Severus is in any frame of mind to give suggestions, and since the potions expert is busy with something at the moment, we're in a bit of a spot."
The three nodded and headed down to Angeline's room with Sirius behind them. He quickly changed back into a dog when he remembered that there were students moving throughout the castle.
The day passed by more quickly than they had hoped. Now it was nearly midnight, and they still had not located the diary.
Hermione laid down on the bed and suppressed her desire to cry. "I just don't understand it. We've looked everywhere."
Ron wearily sat down on the floor next to the bed. The disaster that the room had been in before paled in comparison to its present state. He yawned and looked down at the floor. A tiny piece of splintered wood on the bedroom bureau caught his eye. There was something odd about it.
"I hate to say this, but perhaps we ought to call it a night," Sirius sighed while tossing a pile of papers down on the desk.
Ron pulled at the splinter. The moment he did, a stone came flying out of the wall and into his lap. Ron stood up excitedly. Inside the stone was a small, leather book that had been stained and bent by years of use. "This is it!"
Hermione grabbed the book and opened the cover. No words were visible on the page. "Aparecium," she commanded, but nothing happened. "Oh no! She has a magic lock on the pages ~ Wait ~ ~" Hermione thought hard. She had spent many afternoons with Angeline, and she knew she had seen a tiny key in there before. "Oh! I remember," she squealed and ran over to the bookshelf and stood on the chair next to it so that she could reach the top. She felt along the top and found the key.
After the book was opened, Hermione flipped through anxiously and triumphantly found the page containing the counter potion. Her spirits dropped as she read the ingredients.
Sirius was looking over her shoulder and realized why Hermione's excitement died.
"How are we supposed to get these things? Only half of them are in Professor Snape's private stores."
"What's missing?" Harry asked, feeling like he already knew the answer.
"Re'em's blood, Lethifold, a piece of the affected person's wand, two tears from a Phoenix, and the blood of a relative."
"Well, Dumbledore has a Phoenix," Ron offered, although sadly.
"Severus got two pieces of Angeline's wand, and he's only using one in his potion. The other three will be a problem."
"That Devans fellow ~ he said he was her father ~"
"They've long gone by now, Harry, and besides, that sorry excuse for a human won't just willingly donate his blood for the cause. As for the Re'em blood and the Lethifold, those aren't even buyable objects on the open market."
Harry remembered what Fleur had told him, and he understood why the Death Eaters had been looking for the vials. They wanted to make sure there was no way for Angeline to survive. As a mediphagic, she obviously posed quite a threat to Voldemort.
"Hermione, you and Ron go and gather everything else we'll need to make the potion and meet me in the hospital wing in fifteen minutes," Harry said. His mind was working overtime as he dragged Sirius out the door. "I've got to speak to Dumbledore."
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Snape had spent the entire evening in a chair at Angeline's side. Madam Pomfrey had urged him several times to get some rest, but he had refused and brushed her off with irritation.
Lupin had elected to keep an eye on Snape and Angeline, and Madam Pomfrey left to tend to her other patients in the next room. Angeline had spent most of the day tossing and turning, and Snape had to calm her several times when she had bolted upright in the bed yelling in her hallucinations. It had proven to be an exhausting task, and Snape, who had not slept in over twenty-four hours, had finally fallen asleep slumped over in his chair. Lupin assumed that Madam Pomfrey's last potion probably had something to do with it as well because like clockwork, she had appeared with a blanket for him not five minutes after he had dozed.
Lupin looked at his pocket watch and sighed. Poppy had long since gone to bed leaving Lupin alone with his thoughts. He walked lightly past Snape, not wanting to wake him, and stood on the other side of Angeline's bed. He placed his hand on her forehead. Her skin was cool to the touch, and she did not respond to his touch by stirring. He looked at his watch again and shook his head. She was dying.
Lupin contemplated waking Snape up, but he was not sure that it was a good idea. He noticed that Angeline's breathing had become shallow and her skin was extremely pale. He decided to go and tell Dumbledore that they had run out of time. As he crossed the room, Hermione and Ron entered with handfuls of potions ingredients.
"We found the counter potion in Ms. Angeline's diary," Hermione whispered.
Lupin's countenance grew hopeful. "Then it must be made quickly. Time is running out."
Hermione grew a bit panicked. "We don't have all of the ingredients. We have to have the blood of a relative ~ and her brother is dead now ~"
Snape had heard the last part of their conversation and interrupted Hermione. "Then I will go and get blood from her father."
Unaware that Snape was awake, the three jumped and whirled around to face him. Snape stood stiffly and moved across the room. He still ached where his ribs had been broken, and it caused him to wince slightly.
"That won't be necessary," Dumbledore said as he, Sirius, and Harry walked into the room. "I believe we have everything we need."
"Then we must make it now," Lupin began again. "She is in the final phase of the poison's affects."
Snape took the book from Hermione and peered over the ingredients and procedure. Harry, as though reading his mind, pulled the Lethifold vial and the Re'em blood vial from his bag and handed them to Snape. "Theses were stolen from my personal store this summer ~ how did you get them, Potter?"
"I am not allowed to say, Sir," Harry answered. He expected an interrogation to follow, but Snape had too much on his mind to pursue the matter at the moment.
Snape set about preparing the potion with precision. Harry was amazed at how steady Snape's hands were considering everything that had happened.
All of the ingredients were ready ~ except for the blood. It was to be added last.
"Hermione, hold out your hand," Sirius whispered. She looked at him with pure confusion, but she did as she was told.
"I've been doing a little researching, Hermione," Dumbledore began. "When you told me that you had been taught how to summon mentally, I decided to trace your family history. Do you know much about your family?"
"Well, both of my parents are muggles. Mum has a brother and a sister ~ they're muggles ~ and my grandparents were muggles."
"It seems that your great-grandparents were magic wielders. They had four children. Three of those children also had magical abilities. The fourth, you grandmother, did not. She was quite outcast by this, and distanced herself from the family."
"I don't understand ~ what does that have to do with me?"
"I wasn't quite sure until a few hours ago. You see, Hermione, the ability to summon is strictly genetic. Someone in your family had to have the power before you ~ It seems that your great aunt Lelahna did indeed have those powers." Dumbledore paused and a small smile appeared on his face. "Lelahna married and had two children, one of them whom also had the power to summon. Her daughter's name was Angeline."
"You mean ~ I am related to Ms. Angeline? ~ ~ She is my ~"
"Second cousin."
Sirius held the dagger out and Hermione found herself giving blood for a second time.
Snape took the blood that Sirius drew from Hermione and added it to the potion. The concoction gave up a puff of smoke and then settled, indicating that it was ready. He poured the potion into a glass and moved over to Angeline's bed. He noticed that her necklace was completely clear and dormant. Her breathing was almost not noticeable. His urgency sent a sudden surge of adrenaline pumping through his veins as he raised Angeline's limp body upright in the bed. He tilted her head back and forced the potion successfully down her throat.
The silence in the room was piercing. One minute went by ~ then two ~ and finally three. No one moved. Snape realized he was holding his breath, and he let it out slowly. He held her close to him and continued to wait. He wondered if he had done something wrong. Perhaps the potion didn't work, Maybe he had waited too late. "I'm the one that deserves this, not her," he kept repeating in his mind. "I'll never be able to apologize for my behavior," he thought miserably.
Angeline's body stiffened in pain, and she breathed in forcefully and groaned, breaking Snape's thoughts. Whether instinctively or by accident, she clutched Snape's hand as another contraction of pain hit. Then, just as abruptly as it began, Angeline's body fell limp again. This time, however, she seemed peaceful, almost as though she had just fallen into a deep sleep.
Lupin reached down and checked Angeline's pulse, being cautious not to rip her stitches. Her skin felt warmer than it had the last time he checked. Her breathing was now even and unlabored. Lupin smiled. "It worked. She's going to be fine. I'll go get Poppy."
The room gave up a silent cheer as not to wake her. Snape lowered her gently to the bed and then moved over to the chair and collapsed. His adrenaline rush had fled him, and he was left only with exhaustion and a feeling of gratefulness.
Harry looked at Snape before following everyone into the hall. Snape appeared as though he had aged ten years over night.
"I'll stay in the room across the hall tonight, just in case. I'm sure they'll be fine though," Lupin said to Dumbledore after returning with Poppy.
"Sirius can stay in our room tonight," Harry said.
Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "You may want to resume the identity of Padfoot just in case any of the students wake up," he suggested to Sirius. "I am extremely proud of the three of you," he said, turning his attention to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "You have shown an incredible amount of courage and caring. Always look to this night when you are in doubt of your friendships or your abilities." With that, the group dissipated.
Snape watched Angeline sleeping peacefully for a few moments. He could no longer hear anyone in the hall, and he assumed they must have left them to rest. He was grateful for the silence, and after taking one last glance at Angeline and assuring himself that she would be fine, he nodded off in the chair before he had a chance to think of anything else.
Hermione came back in the room to get Angeline's diary. She did not want anyone to have the opportunity to read it. She picked the book up silently and glanced over at Angeline and Snape. A feeling of extreme gratitude and concern flooded her heart. In some ways, her life had changed permanently in one night. As she thought about how exciting it was going to be introducing her newly found cousin to her parents and possibly being able to learn more about the rest of her family, she picked up the blanket off the floor and placed it around Snape. She looked at him considerably for a moment and then left the room as silently as she had entered.
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A/N: Whew! That took me forever to type! My fingers feel like I've been playing Nintendo for hours. (You know, the old "Nintendo thumb" feeling). Anyway, thanks for hanging on this long. You have made it over the hump, and now there are a few housecleaning issues to tend to ~ Mwahahaha ~ But fear not! Madam Arianna still has a few tricks left up her robe sleeves, so stay tuned!
The next chapter: Aftermath
And by the way, don't forget to REVIEW!!!
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