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 Animus et Anima Wyrmis- I try to make the cliffhangers worth it. To lillinfields- I already know how the snippets end, but thank you for the suggestion. Severus is aware on some level that he cares deeply for Harry, but I doubt he will admit it to himself. To Elwen Rhiannon- I do not have any other pairings in mind and I do not know how active I will be in the fandom after this, but I am glad that you have enjoyed my stories. To Exwhyzed- quite. To Arch-Nemesis- I love your quip about Chimera! ::laughs:: To mercyangel- Voldemort is just about as dead as you can get. He's not coming back- at least not in this timeline! To Alicorn1- actually, after this there are still two more snippets left. The numbering on the menu was messed up by my two author's notes. I am writing a set of original novels- in fact, that was what I was doing before I took a break to write Love Potion HP- however I do not plan to post them on-line. Thank you also to Widow767 and whispers of an angel 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 #26: The Power That Lingers
"Harry!" Sirius cried, forcing the double doors of Hogwarts open. They swung inward at his touch; Dumbledore had charmed them to recognize them. "Severus! Harry, where are you!"
The wails of a tiny baby echoed through the halls. Sirius's heart pounded faster in his chest. Aurora. For the sake of speed, he morphed into Padfoot and ran in pursuit of the sound. At the threshold of the Great Hall, he changed again to human and was struck by what he saw, for he could make no sense of it.
The long tables of the room were gone, black scorch marks in their place. Harry was decumbent on the floor. Severus stood over him. He was not looking at the boy. Instead, he clutched Aurora and rocked back in forth. The motion, which he had begun with the intent of calming his child, had become repetitive; he was in shock.
"Severus!" Sirius called and rushed towards him.
The sound of his name broke Severus's trance. With a start, he looked up at Sirius. His entire body suddenly seemed to crumple; he fell onto his knees.
"I'm sorry!" he cried. "I know you'll never forgive me! He shouldn't have done it! I'm sorry!"
Sirius's eyes flew to Harry, then back to Severus. He put his arm around him and asked, "For what, Severus? Severus, what happened."
Severus's voice was firm but his body was shaking. "Voldemort," he croaked. "He gave himself up to Voldemort. He shouldn't have done it- he should have let me-"
Sirius gently cupped his hand under Severus's chin and raised his head. He looked into the Potion Master's eyes and was shaken by the anguished guilt swirling in their depths.
"Voldemort," he said urgently. "Where is Voldemort?"
"He's dead," Severus answered. "Voldemort's dead. Harry destroyed him and it killed him!"
"Severus, calm down-"
"No!" he suddenly snapped. When he spoke again, his voice was disturbingly rational. "Don't you understand? Harry is dead! And he didn't have to die! Voldemort was going to kill me, but it wouldn't have mattered! My death would have placed the same charm on Aurora that Lily's put on Harry! He still would have been killed! I should have died, not Harry! I should have-"
"Severus," a new voice said.
Both Severus and Sirius gave a start as Dumbledore suddenly knelt beside them. Aurora looked into the headmaster's blue eyes and, as if charmed, fell silent.
"Albus-" Severus began.
Dumbledore stopped him from speaking further. "I know what happened here, Severus," he said. His voice was even and calm. "The power that lingers in this room is familiar to me. Now, listen. Harry made a choice and it was pure and selfless. He wanted you to live and he would be deeply upset to hear you wish it otherwise."
"But Albus-"
"Shh," the headmaster shook his head. "It is essential that you understand that a love as pure as was shown here today is not something that can be conceived upon whim. It can only be bestowed upon one who is truly worthy. If Harry had sacrificed himself for you out of such love, his act would not need to be questioned."
"If Harry had…?" Severus repeated stupidly.
Dumbledore smiled gently. "As I said, I recognize this power. Harry is not dead. True love does not destroy- not even hate, for hate consumes itself when confronted by it. The boy- man, I should say, for he has proven himself to be that- is still very much alive."
