It's a trapit's a trapdon't fall for it
Blackness dawned on his full vision as the pure animal, phoenix, was forced to betray its faith. It bursted into flames and was left with no more but a single feather. Harry had heard its mournful outcry, its gasps of agony as the Darkest wizard of the centaury forced it to summon against its will.
"Come to memy boythe traitor of the Dark Lord"
Voldemort hissed snake likely to the feather, as though speaking to it. The few death Eaters around grew anonymously quiet and Harry felt goose bumps standing on his flesh as Voldemort chanted the words over and over again.
The darkness faded away and was replaced by illuminates of the newly installed torches on the walls. Harry squinted into the misty surface to identify a single tall, thin figure that was not there before standing beside Voldemort.
Black hair, thin and tall, able-bodied, covered in blackSeverus Snape.
* * *
Severus opened his eyes. He did not even have the time to recognize the
location he was in when agony hit him, bringing him down to the ground.
The pain was familiar...as he had suffered it so many times
"Severus, dear. Welcome to your Death day Party."
That voicethat hissit was all so recognizableSeverus skived the pain and squinted to see none other than the Dark Lord, his nightmares, standing face to face with him.
"You-?"
"Me." Voldemort replied calmly. "What a pity, boy, to find yourself falling right behind enemy lines while you have risked yourself cleverly in your whole life. Tell me, Severus. Is Dumbledore that fool worth all this?"
Severus spat blood on the ground with hatred. His wand was gone. He was stupid to fall for a trick like thiswhy had not he seen this before? Why did he have to jump to conclusions so soon and never stopping to realize the suspicions, which he would have done under normal circumstances?
Deliberately in attempt to pull himself up from the cold stone floor, Severus hissed in reply, "Albus- Dumbledore- is- worth- ten- times- of- you."
Laughter rang through the dungeon and Severus realized for the first time, that they were not alone. Glancing around through the pain smearing inside his body, he identified several; of his fellow Death Eaters closing p upon him. And through the thicket of legs, he saw- his heart gave a leapt- The Boy Who Lived, crouching on the floor with thick ropes bounding him, staring back right at Severus.
He instantly knew where they were- the Riddle House, Headquarters of the Dark. And standing in a corner of the room, was an overlarge cauldron, large enough to fit a man inside. An amount of ingredients were boiling inside it, evidently a potion.
A light flickered inside Severus' mind. Traitor, enemy- not to mention a loyal one- the Dark Lord was indeed planning on something- the Eternalize Potion?
No, he said firmly to himself. He would never obey the demon's orders and grant his ambitious wishes. Obey or die. That was usually the only parting of ways.
He would have to choose death, then.
A slap on his face brought him back to reality. "Are you listening?" hissed a voice in his ear. "Years I have trained you, powers I have granted you, and this is the thanks I get?" Voldemort spat angrily on him while some Death Eater kicked him hard to the right. He heard a few bones crack but made no signs of weakness nor pain.
"Do you want mercy? Answer me, do you want mercy?" The man whom he once titled as Lord pointed hi wand on him, his eyes widening every time he spoke. Severus was not about to reply. He would die with pride and proud, not like a toy played by the enemy's hands.
A short balding figure pulled out a shiny object. Severus knew the person- Peter Pettigrew, that filthy coward. Pettigrew waved his dagger in front of Severus, as if to threaten him. "Answer the Dark Lord."
"You- wish."
"Imperious!"
He was floating, gliding away from his fears, so full of joy that he
thought his heart
would burst open
"Do you wish to see mercy?"
Answer "yes", do it
"I repeat, do you wish to see mercy?"
Just say "yes", and all of it will be finished
And he would sacrifice himself for the Dark Lord
ANSWER!
Severus could not take it anymore- he did not have the power to override the Imperius Curse but he was not about to obey, either- so he chose to flee inside to the deepest space in his mind, whereas he could hide and no one could reach him, not even the Darkest wizard-
He fainted.
* * *
Harry was shaking with quite a few emotions. Fury, fear, sorrow, concerns
he had saw the whole thing, how Voldemort tortured Snape and Snape held
on with his strongest strength, how the Minister of Magic was foolish
enough to believe Voldemort and rewarded by death, how Albus Dumbledore's
sign of faith and hope was demolished within the unblockable powers of
the Dark Lord
One of the Death Eater close up on him with glee. There was no mistake who it was, even though she was masked in black. Harry could feel it somehow, feel his fears and worries boiling up to anger and abhorrence as she approached him-
"So, we meet again, Harry Potter." She said excitedly, with a kind of hunger in her tone, "Been thinking about my dear old cousin lately?"- Harry growled slightly but was to incensed to speak- "Don't worry, in a few moment's of time, you'll be seeing each other again. Oh how touching it is, you're crying! You're bawling for your loving godfather!"
So he was. He had not realized it before, but now that she said it, tears were glistening on his own cheeks.
How could he have been so stupid, breaking down in front of Bellatrix Lestrange? Furious with himself, he found his words, "I'm going to kill you, Lestrange, I swear that"
"Unfortunately, Harry Potter, you may never have the chance." Interrupted Voldemort who was examining Snape. Turning to Harry, he ordered sharply, "Up!"
Harry remained on the floor.
"Imperius! Up!"
He had no choice- he did not have the strength to fight. Standing up,
he mounted on what's remaining of his courage, "Kill me, then! Come
on, finish me off and don't play stupid games!"
Voldemort shook his head, making an impatient sound with his tongue. "There are promises which I am not in desire to break, Potter. I have promised my loyal ones a good deal with you once I success in capturing you and my dear old Severus."
He walked to the end of the room and faced the fireplace. Hissing in a language only Harry could understand, Voldemort commanded, "Open!"
The fire in the bricks went out instantly and was replaced by a large hole, enough to fit a man. Voldemort turned o the wordless Harry and the Death Eaters surrounding him,
"Bring him in."
They moved in tension as Harry struggled off the hold of his capturers and entered by himself. Snape was to be summoned by a Death Eater with Magic.
They had entered a small chamber with a few torches of light on the walls. The air inside was cool and dry, and Harry saw nothing but the emptiness. And a single table in the corner.
"Untie him and enjoy yourselves." Voldemort said to Lestrange, who seemed very excited. Harry knew what was going on- they would torture him and Snape until the potion was ready for their lives. He was in no condition to fight, Voldemort had damaged his physical walls so badly he was surprised that he was not unconscious like Snape.
The Death Eaters closed in eagerly and whipped their ands out as Voldemort gave out the last order, "Release Severus Snape first. I want him to see the pain and horror. I shall be proceeding in the Ministry and will return in an hour's time. I trust the potion shall be ready by then?"
So there was an attack going on at the Ministry, Harry thought. Wonder where Dumbledore's in all this
One of the Death Eaters spoke and Harry recognized Lucius Malfoy, "If Snape agrees to help, it hall be ready for your Lord in no time."
"Well make him agree, then." The Dark Lord hissed.
"Yes, my Lord."
With a last swift of his robes, the Dark Lord made his exit, leaving Harry and Snape to face their fates.
* * *
Severus opened his eyes with a jerk as one of his opponents freed him.
Glancing alertly around, he realized they were no longer inside the Riddle
living room- but the secret chamber Severus had been before when submitting
himself to the Dark Lord.
Bellatrix Lestrange stepped forward and untied him while he saw Potter
beside himself. The boy was looking quite enervated.
"Are youOK?" Potter whispered, eying his professor's weak body.
Severus merely nodded. He knew perfectly what was coming for them nexttorment. And insults.
Yet again, he would never join making the potion for the Dark Lord. There was no way he would betray Dumbledore.
"So, Severus my slippery friend," Lucius Malfoy must have been more than delighted to have the permission hurting his so-called friend, "Tell me, what makes you think you'll get away with this? With the Dark Lord so strong, so powerful, how were you under the pathetic impression that you'll be perfectly safe with that Muggle loving fool?"
A few sniggers rang in Severus' ears. He gritted his teeth, "Kill me, fool, kill me and get it over with!"
"Uh-uh, Severus boy, it doesn't work that way. You'll get what you deserve at the end, why be in a rush? We have plenty of time to play."
Severus was about to reply when pain hit him, bringing him onto the ground
once more.
He let a weak scream escape his lips before he could help it.
Laughter rang through the chamber as they watched him thrashing with agony helplessly. There was no fight, there were about six well trained Death Eaters to one professor and a boy, not to mention both were weakened thoroughly.
"And you, little Potter?" Severus squinted his eyes through the pain to see Lestrange closing up on the boy, "What a pity, you couldn't avenge me for my dear old cousin before you die. You loved him, didn't you, baby Harry?"
The Boy Who Lived was stronger than Severus had thought him for he simply glared back and shook with fury. And when Lestrange conjured another torturing curse, he merely sat there, though trembling with agony but making no signs of weakness.
Compared to himselfhow could he be the first one to break, when that schoolboy was still hanging on?
He could not help it- he had been comparing himself to Potter a lot lately Perhaps it was because of the scene Potter had witness inside the Pensive that brought his loathe and abhorrence of the Potters stronger and reminded him how he, pathetically desired to have the fame and attention of James Potter more than anything when he was in youth, or perhaps it was because Harry Potter had showed a lot of courage and generosity during these days that made Sever us wanting to prove himself not worse than a schoolboy badly.
But whatever the reason, it often gave Severus strength to accomplish his tasks for he could not bear losing, especially when the opponent was a schoolboy, not to mention by the surname of Potter.
Hence as the other Death Eaters closed upon Potter, all laughing and tormenting him, Severus, now shaking with fear but firm, took full advantage and leapt up to gain hold of the wand of Lucius Malfoy's.
* * *
"Arugh!"
His capturers turned and some shrieked as hexes hit them. Harry was near unconscious but was determined to see what was going on.
His own professor had succeed in stealing one of the Death Eaters' wands, and was now starting a fight. Hope dawned on Harry as he, too, scrambled up without hesitate.
He saw the nearest Death Eater's Stunned body and grabbed his wand. Aiming at Malfoy, who was advancing on him, he bellowed, fear now all out of him, "IMPEDIMENTA!"
His attacker ducked and the hex hit the Death Eater behind him, bringing her body across the room. Harry flung himself to the right to avoid Malfoy's outreached hands and noticed the horrible scene- Malfoy's eyes had been blinded by Snape. Blood was spattering everywhere and Harry had a sudden urge to feel sick when a hand gripped him from behind, so violent it made him suffocate- "Give me the wand." A voice hissed in his ear.
Harry could not breath anymore- the hand around his neck was near painful- then Snape flew out of nowhere and hit Harry's attacker with a spell Harry had never saw before. His attacker, turning out to be Dolohov, went immobile on the floor instantly.
Two down, four to go
He and Snape stood side by side against the wall, trying to keep the Death Eaters all in sight. They aimed their wands at them and Harry pulled Snape into a kind of bow as three Stunning Spells hit the wall above their head, missing by inches.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled in return, pointing his wand on a woman Harry did not recognize- she let out a scream and dropped to the floor.
Three more to -
"Potter! Get out now!"
Harry turned to see Snape dueling with the other three at the same time. He headed towards the exit but hesitated. Snape was never going to win against those powerful three- and there was Lestrange, one his fingers itched whenever he saw her-
"Crucio!" Lestrange's curse hit Snape and he fell onto the ground with unmistakably pain. Harry made up his mind to help and ran back into the battle, "Reducto!"
One of the Death Eaters was blasted of her feet and here head hit against the wall, passing out as soon as they made contact. Two flashes of light shot towards Harry and he ducked out of the way due to his Seeker's reflexes. He crouched behind the small table, catching his breath and mounting his courage.
"Tormenta!"
A curse which Harry had never heard before hit Snape again, making him defendless- a man he did not recognize took Snape's wand and threw it away. It made a defeated sound as it hit the walls of the chamber.
Harry peeked out of the edge of the table to see Lestrange kicking Snape sideways. Was Snape conscious? Harry could not see. If he fainted, it would be him and the Death Eaters
"Harry Potter?" Lestrange called in her mock tone. " We are not playing hide and seek, come out! Don't you want to die like a hero in a battle like the way your pathetic godfather did?"
Hatred rose as Harry never knew before as he jumped out from the edge of the table, "Petrficus Totalus!"
Lestrange's body was bind up together into stiff board and as the other Death Eater stare at his partner with a second's of hesitate, Harry bellowed, "Impedimenta!"
The man was knocked off his feet and blasted through half the chamber. Knowing that he did not have much time, he ran towards Snape and prayed that he would be awake.
"Professor?" he shook Snape's body.
He was conscious, no mistake- but his eyes were blank with no recognize , blood was dripping out of the corners of his mouth and his whole body was trembling badly. Sympathy dawned on Harry as he gripped Snape's arm with nerve.
"You- you-"
Snape sputtered blood onto the ground. Harry turned and glanced around to see if any of the Death Eaters were in condition to fight again. Grabbing the nearest wand lying on the ground, he gave Snape a boast to stand up correctly.
Snape took the wand from his hands and moved in slow motion as Harry urged him to the exit. "Faster- they'll be awake any moment!"
They reached the exit with difficulty. "Alohomora!"
No use.
"Stand aside." Snape said icily, pointing his wand at the door. "Reminado!"
The door was blasted to shrewd as Snape conjured the powerful spell. Harry was sure it was Dark Magic.
They scrambled out of the door, aiming their wands everywhere to see if anyone was standing on guard. Harry saw nothing. "Let's go-"
"Down, Harry!" Snape shouted abruptly. Harry flew onto the ground on fours with his excellent reflexes- or perhaps it was because Snape had called him by first name that surprised him so much- and he heard Snape yelling Dark curses. He flung himself out of the way and saw a Death Eater dueling with his professor so fast their wand tips became a blur just as what he had seen during last year's events.
"Crucio!"
Snape ducked the spell, "Tormenta!"
The Death Eater screamed wildly on the ground and Harry was sure it hurt even more badly than the Cruciatus Curse. Snape turned to him and to Harry's surprise, there was a look of satisfy on his torn face.
"Hurry out of here!"
Harry tore his gaze away from the sobbing Death Eater- he was suffering so badly Harry actually felt sympathy- and followed Snape towards the main entrance of the house. They were nearly to it when a crash sounded at the back of the room.
The pair whirled around to find themselves facing Bellatrix Lestrange and the man Harry did not identify. They were bleeding badly but determined o fight.
"Oh no you don't, Potter!" The man shouted as Harry took aim at Lestrange- he made a swish of moment with his wand following the incantation "Tormenta!" and a purple light was shot towards Harry. It hit him squarely on the chest.
The pain! It was more than anything he could imagine, much worse than the other torturing curses- in fact, the only time he had suffered this badly was the time Voldemort possessed him.
Snape let out an uproar and blasted Lestrange with a horrible looking curse as the other Death Eater ducked out of the way. Harry shook the pain off himself and stood up, facing the remaining Death Eater. He was staring at Lestrange, who laid on the floor with pain. His mask sled of as he crouched onto the floor to release the shrieking woman- and Harry recognized the other Lestrange, husband of Bellatrix Lestrange's.
Without a moment's of hesitate, Harry bellowed, "IMPEDIMENTA!"
The man was thrown backwards- he stumbled a few steps as Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry and Snape stared at him-
Then he tumbled into the cauldron behind him. It gave a soft hiss and the man's figure was nowhere to be seen.
It had dissolved him as the first life of sacrifice.
"Nooooooo!" Lestrange bellowed, getting up to her feet. "My husband! YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND!"
She tore towards Harry, who was still too stunned to act, and lunged at him with her outstretched hands, her face tear stricken-
"Reducto!" Snape had thrown himself between Harry and his attacker, shielding him and sending Lestrange to the other side of the room.
"That'll teach you how it feels when you lose the one you love!" Snape spat in despite of Harry.
He turned back towards the petrified Harry. "Come, go now-"
But Harry could not move. He kept staring at the cauldron, as if Lestrange would climb back out of it if he stared long enough. He could not take it- he did not mean it- he had killed a man-
"Potter!" Snape's stern voice had not made its usual use. Harry began to tremble, still looking at the edge of the cauldron.
Snape glanced from the potion to Harry and said quietly, "It is not your fault, Potter. He got what he deserved."
Yet again, he knew what it was like to lose the person he loved, and it was his entire fault now that another person in the world- although it was Lestrange- suffered the same as he did last year. He did not think anyone would deserve as bad as that.
"I- Ididn't mean tokill him." He whispered, more like convincing himself. Snape gripped his shoulder in a way Harry never felt before- it was almost caring like, almost a sign of warmth-
"I know, Potter, I know. Not your fault."
And then at these comforting words, Harry snapped completely, sobbing with tears pouring out of his eyes. It was too much for him- the memories of Sirius, the events happening in presence
He fell into Snape's arms as the Boy Who Lived, once so strong and determined, broke down in the arms of his once so-called enemy.
And as he calmed himself, with Snape patting awkwardly on his back, Harry knew one thing- no matter they survived this night or not, they had reached what the wisest wizard had always recommended- truce between the good.
They were united enemies, and it was their only hope to victory.
