LP HP: Second Dose- A Story in Twenty-Eight Snippets
by Tavalya Ra
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J. K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Rowling is a goddess; may she have mercy on my soul for writing this.
Author's Notes: Thank you to Mawkish for putting me up to the challenge of writing this and to everyone who read and commented upon the story in April- especially Skip, who never failed to make me laugh.
To whispers of an angel- Severus won't fight Sirius on this one. He knows how important it is to him and there is Aurora to consider now. To Wyrm- sorry about the infrequent updating. I'll try to be more consistent. To LCM- Rowling isn't evil. Sirius is her character to do with what she wish. If he were mine, OotP would have been very different. Thank you also to chris for reviewing.
If anyone wishes to archive this story on his or her site, please contact me at clearbluedelphia@yahoo.com.
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Snippet #22: For Nothing
A few hours later, the halls of Hogwarts were empty. The first through fourth years had been regulated to their respective common rooms with scattered faculty left to supervise. The rest of the students and the teachers, along with Aurors and members from the Order of the Phoenix, left the school to face the Death Eaters on the battlefield.
Severus saw nothing of the struggle from his window in the South Tower. His own barrier spell obscured his view. He was just as nauseated with worry as he had been during Sirius's trial, but this time Aurora wasn't fidgeting inside him- she was in his arms wailing for Daddy. Severus barely managed to pacify her. He was the source of her agitation- she was afraid only because she sensed her mother was.
Severus scratched his arm. The itching was becoming worse, which meant that Voldemort was nearing the barrier. The bedchamber had grown too small to contain his anxiety. Allayed by the knowledge that the Dark Lord could not possibly pass through the bubble, he wrapped Aurora in her blanket and left the South Tower to wander the corridors.
* * *
Sirius was an island in a sea of chaos. The clamor of the battle- the fierce chanting of spells, the cries of pain, roars of fury- were nothing to him. His world was silent in a moment of perverse tranquility, as Peter Pettigrew's newly killed carcass fell at his feet.
His serenity was shattered as a sudden spell slammed him against a tree. His wand flew from his hand and cords appeared from the air, binding his body. Lucius Malfoy emerged from the bushes, his wand aimed at Sirius's heart.
With a smug and satisfied smirk, Lucius practically purred, "I knew Wormtail would be the perfect bait for you. I've had you marked since we met in the Forest two years ago and now you're mine."
"So kill me then," Sirius spat at his feet. "You can't do anything to me, Lucius. You don't have the power to hurt me."
"Why?" the Death Eater retorted rhetorically. "It is because Severus and Sirius Jr. are safely holed up inside Hogwarts?"
Sirius smirked.
"You know, that lovely bubble only protects above the ground. It doesn't include certain tunnels that a Marauder," Lucius said, nodding towards Pettigrew, "would know about."
Sirius's heart turned cold.
"I want you to know that," Lucius continued. "I want you die knowing that you did so for nothing, that your lover and your brat will be joining you shortly in the afterlife!"
He raised his wand and opened his mouth, but it was another voice that cried out in rage, "Avada Kedavra!"
A jet of sick green light shot from the last wand anyone would have suspected.
It came from Harry Potter's.
"Finite Incantatem!" Harry cast upon Sirius. His voice quivered; he was shaking where he stood and his face had paled.
"I had to do it," he started to babble. "I had to know if I could cast that spell…"
Sirius could not fathom his alarm. He retrieved his wand, then reached out to touch Harry's shoulder. "Harry… Harry, no, you don't have to use that spell… There are other ways…"
Harry stepped backwards and shook his head. "Severus… He's going to go after Severus- I know he would want to do it himself!"
He turned on his heel and began sprinting towards the castle. Sirius ran after him shouting, "Harry! Harry, what are you doing!"
Macnair and Avery stepped into his path. The battle closed in around him. He fought fiercely to get through, to get away…
Everything he loved most was converging at the one place in the world that was supposed to be safe- the one place that had suddenly become the most dangerous.
* * *
Severus jiggled Aurora and whispered soothingly in her ear. Her black eyes were watering. She was very close to crying and he did not know if he could endure another outburst from her; the sound was heart wrenching.
Stepping from the stairwell onto the third floor, he felt a funny sensation. The itching was suddenly intense.
Can't be, he thought. It can't mean anything.
He entered the corridor containing the statue of the humpbacked witch, remembering when he had found Harry there, how many times he had seen Sirius and James Potter lurking there…
Pain erupted under his skin. Severus gasped.
No! he thought frantically. No, it can't-
He did not need to roll up his sleeve to know that the Dark Mark was burning.
Severus lifted his baby close to his mouth and whispered, "Aurora, Mummy needs you to be quiet. Please be quiet for Mummy."
In his right arm, he cradled Aurora. He would not risk holding her in his left. Retreating to a bend in the hall, he withdrew his wand and aimed it at the statue. A few minutes later, the statue opened and an abnormally tall, spectrally thin figure in a gray cloak emerged.
Slowly, Severus inched into the hall. Even with the Dark Lord's face turned away, he could feel the burning heat of his red eyes upon him. He raised his wand and cried, "Ava-"
Voldemort turned. Aurora took one look at him and screamed. The baby's cry jarred Severus, as did the Dark Lord's sudden shout of, "Morsmordi!" He dropped his wand.
Voldemort stepped forward and triumphantly hissed, "Severusss…"
